Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-102

§2205 Construction

Title 50 › CHAPTER 39 — SPOILS OF WAR › § 2205

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The chapter's rules do not apply in five wartime situations. They do not cover when troops leave or don't take captured property for valid military reasons (for example, because it would be too hard to move or because allied forces need to use it during fighting); when property taken, borrowed, or requisitioned for temporary military use is returned or abandoned without keeping it; when troops destroy captured property; when captured items are returned to their previous owners because the enemy had seized them; or when small personal items are lawfully kept by service members as war trophies under public written authorization from the Department of Defense.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2205

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to—

(1)the abandonment or failure to take possession of spoils of war by troops in the field for valid military reasons related to the conduct of the immediate conflict, including the burden of transporting such property or a decision to allow allied forces to take immediate possession of certain property solely for use during an ongoing conflict;

(2)the abandonment or return of any property obtained, borrowed, or requisitioned for temporary use during military operations without intent to retain possession of such property;

(3)the destruction of spoils of war by troops in the field;

(4)the return of spoils of war to previous owners from whom such property had been seized by enemy forces; or

(5)minor articles of personal property which have lawfully become the property of individual members of the armed forces as war trophies pursuant to public written authorization from the Department of Defense.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2205

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102