The methods of fighting employed by the civilian population were absolutely incompatible with the universally recognised rules of international law, as laid down in Articles 1 and 2 of the Hague Convention (Laws and Customs of War on Land), which had also been accepted by Belgium. These rules differentiate between organised and unorganised civilian warfare. In an organised People's War (Article 1) the militia and volunteer corps, in order to be recognised as belligerents, must observe the four following regulations: They must have responsible leaders at their head; they must wear a distinctive badge, also visible at a distance; they must carry their weapons openly; and must conform with the laws and usages of war. The unorganised People's War (Article 2) need not fulfil the first two of the above conditions, but must strictly adhere to the two latter ones: it may only be carried on in territory not yet occupied by the enemy, and only then if no time has been left to arrange for an organised People's War. The two special conditions laid down for organised civilian warfare were certainly not carried out by the Belgian francs-tireurs, because all the German military reports are unanimous in stating that the civilians found fighting had no responsible leaders, and wore no military badges (Apps. 6, 49; C4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31; D). The Belgian francs-tireurs can therefore not be looked upon as organised militia or volunteer corps according to the meaning of the laws of war. The fact that apparently Belgian soldiers and members of the Garde Civique also took part in their enterprises does not alter the case, because, as these persons too did not wear military badges, but mingled with the population in civilian dress (Apps. 6; A3; C25; D1, 30, 45, 46), they forfeited the rights of belligerents.