Fires: The Chinese treated all POWs the same regardless of rank. This resulted in the degradation of discipline among POWs. Do you think this was the intended outcome or just 2nd and 3rd order effects? In addition what would you do to combat the loss of morale among POWs?
This wasn’t the intended outcome but it was successful. I don’t think they wanted to take the time or care into the POWs. They were treating the POWs like theirs had been treated in the past. The culture had been brutalized throughout the past wars. I believe they in a sense we desensitized to their harsh treatment.
Morale will always decay in POWs to some degree and some it will be faster than others. However, if the chain of command does stay intact throughout their isolation it will help prevent the decay of morale. As long the leader in the group leads and continues throughout their time in prison, it help foster hope and keep a fighting spirit.