History Main / SurrenderBackfire

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[AC: [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2273 SCP-2273 ("Major Alexei Belitrov, of the Red Army's 22nd Armored Infantry Division")]] ]]. While on a mission inside American territory, SCP-2273 ordered its fellow troops to surrender to the Americans so they could become [=POWs=] and not have to fight any more. Instead, the Americans cold-bloodedly murdered the surrendering soldiers but kept SCP-2273 alive for some reason.

Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie or CapturedOnPurpose. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to be in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. If the person who suggested the idea genuinely thought it was smart, that makes it ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime and NotQuiteTheRight. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie or CapturedOnPurpose. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to be in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer. If the person who suggested surrender really believed it was right, that's NotQuiteTheRightThing.

Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie or CapturedOnPurpose. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to be in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

* A villainous example of this was what instigated [[ComicBook/AntMan Hank Pym]]'s first and most notorious [[FallenHero fall from grace]] in ''Avengers'' #212. After a supervillain called Elfqueen attacked UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC, ComicBook/CaptainAmerica managed to talk her down only for Hank to attack her anyway by mistake and almost ruin their chances at peace. This leads to the rest of the Avengers court-martialing him and temporarily suspending him from the team, and Hank has an emotional breakdown that leads to him trying to earn his place back through EngineeredHeroics [[DomesticAbuse as well as striking his wife]] ComicBook/TheWasp, [[NeverLiveItDown forever cementing his status in the public consciousness as a wife beater]].

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

* In Clint Eastwood's ''Film/LettersFromIwoJima'', a group of Japanese soldiers finally tire of the endless fighting and continuing calls for self sacrifice and surrender to an American patrol. The patrol doesn't want the hassle or additional danger (not to mention feeling very vindictive after a brutal battle against them) of escorting the prisoners back to their camp, decides to simply shoot the prisoners. Double backfire when the bodies are discovered by the Japanese, as they tell their men that surrender will simply get them shot, so the bitter war ultimately grinds on.
* ''Film/AReasonToLiveAReasonToDie'': After most of his men have been massacred, Maj. Ward surrenders to Col. Pembroke; handing over his sabre to Pembroke and reminding him of the rules of war regarding the acceptance of surrenders. However, he has misjudged the level of Pembroke's personal hatred of him [[spoiler:and Pembroke stabs him with his own sabre]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/BlinkyBill'''s third season, the titular koala himself faces this dilemma when he has to choose between putting his friends and family in danger by staying in Greenpatch, or performing in the circus unwillingly under the orders of Basil Circus. He tries to get him to put out the fire he had started, but he lets it burn toward his home while Blinky is stuck in a cage. Thankfully, his step-sister Nutsy comes to the rescue.

* In Clint Eastwood's ''Film/LettersFromIwoJima'', a group of Japanese soldiers finally tire of the endless fighting and continuing calls for self sacrifice and surrender to an American patrol. The patrol doesn't want the hassle or additional danger (not to mention feeling very vindinctive after a brutal battle against them) of escorting the prisoners back to their camp, decides to simply shoot the prisoners. Double backfire when the bodies are discovered by the Japanese, as they tell their men that surrender will simply get them shot, so the bitter war ultimately grinds on.

* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': When [[spoiler:Quanxi]]'s party run into [[TheDreaded Makima]], [[KnowWhenToFoldEm they immediately give up]], with their leader begging for mercy on the rest. Makima immediately [[OffWithHisHead decapitates]] all of them, [[spoiler:and for Quanxi [[ReforgedIntoAMinion even death wasn't an escape]]]].

* In ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', during the Searchers' first encounter with Pixie when she was one of [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Big Bad Four]], Pixie forced them to give themselves up because [[HostageSituation she had a hostage]]. The Searchers at first wanted to go out fighting, but Holly and Hare reasoned that it was their fault Pixie took a hostage. Reluctantly, the Searchers surrendered for now to come up with a new plan later...only for Hare, Tiger, Suezo, and Golem to be chained up so that they can be taken to Moo and turned into baddies, [[PacifismBackfire much to Holly's shock]]. Even worse, [[ILied Pixie refused to release the hostage afterwards]].

[[folder:Video Games]]
Far, far too many instances to count. Meta-wise, this is typically due to various game engine limitations.
* Sometimes, there is no option to accept a surrender.[[note]]In Skyrim, enemies who cower before you will wait a few seconds or run, and then immediately charge back into the fight as if their precious lives no longer matter. At no point can you restrict or restrain them.[[/note]]
* BeatingADeadPlayer prevents a player from admitting defeat, because most video game enemies are programmed to constantly shoot you whether you're mowing them down, [[ISurrenderSuckers pretending to surrender]], genuinely surrendering, or already dead.
* DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist means it's near-impossible too kill a real person by mercilessly slaughtering a non-combatant in a video game, and those surrendering combatants still give out points you need to beat the game...
* Sometimes, it's just a gritty part of the game.
* There are some aversions; during cutscenes and scripted events, you may be required to surrender yourself to infiltrate a prison you plan on escaping, or you may get surrounded in an ambush that is clearly designed to be unwinnable, so your character surrenders for you and goes on to the next level in custody. At no point do the enemies lynch you while you're defenseless, despite how thoroughly they rushed to their deaths trying to take you out.
[[/folder]]

Unfortunately has the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop where it is better to fight to the end rather than give up. Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie or CapturedOnPurpose. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to be in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

* In Clint Eastwood's ''Film/LettersFromIwoJima'', a group of Japanese soldiers finally tire of the endless fighting and continuing calls for self sacrifice and surrender to an American patrol. The patrol doesn't want the hassle or additional danger (not to mention feeling very vindinctive after a brutal battle against them) of escorting the prisoners back to their camp, decides to simply shoot the prisoners. Double backfire when the bodies are discovered by the Japanese, as they tell their men that surrender will simply get them shot, so the bitter and ultimately grinds on.

Unfortunately has the FamilyUnfriendlyAesop where it is better to fight to the end rather than give up. Similar to PacifismBackfire where trying to avoid a fight [[FromBadToWorse causes a confrontation to intensify]]. A rare moment where HonorBeforeReason is actually in the right. Not to be confused with ISurrenderSuckers or PoisonousCaptive where the one surrendering is doing so as part of [[GetIntoJailFree a]] [[BatmanGambit plan]], though the two can mix if the enemy sees through the scheme. Not the same as StupidSurrender, where one surrenders without realizing [[OneManArmy they didn't]] [[PlotInducedStupidity have to]]. Can be the [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic]] [[KarmicDeath fate]] of a DangerousDeserter who tried to pull a ScrewThisImOuttaHere, resulting in RewardedAsATraitorDeserves. Can go hand in hand with LeaveNoSurvivors. Compare RunOrDie. Contrast DefiantToTheEnd, LastStand, and StandYourGround. YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo is similar where one makes a deal with the villain for the safety of their friends, [[ILied only for the villain to pull a double cross]]. For those who protest the notion of surrendering turn out to be in the right, see StrawmanHasAPoint. See also ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.

* In ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', during the Searchers' first encounter with Pixie when she was one of [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad the Big Bad Four]], Pixie forced them to give themselves up because [[HostageSituation she had a hostage]]. The Searchers at first wanted to go out fighting, but Holly and Hare reasoned that it was their fault Pixie took a hostage. Reluctantly, the Searchers surrendered for now to come up with a new plan later...only for Hare, Tiger, Suezo, and Golem to be chained up so that they can be taken to Muu and turned into baddies, [[PacifismBackfire much to Holly's shock]]. Even worse, [[ILied Pixie refused to release the hostage afterwards]].

In rare moments, a villain can be on the receiving end of this. In this case, it shows that the heroes [[HeWhoFightsMonsters have become just as bad as the villains]], especially if the villain in question [[HeelFaceDoorSlam wanted to defect to the good guys]]. The heroes may justify this as IDidWhatIHadToDo or that ARealManIsAKiller.

** Towards the end of the first arc, after Xykon is ([[NotQuiteDead seemingly]]) destroyed, his goblin {{mooks}} attempt to surrender, but [[TokenEvilTeammate Belkar]] decides to keep picking them off for the [=XP=].

* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': One mook facing Revy throws down his gun and says "I give up!", and she sadistically replies "You give what?" When he sputters incoherently, Revy shoots him anyway while keeping her usual SlasherSmile.

* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', after Steamboat Willie attacks TheSquad and loses his men, he surrenders to the squad. Upham murders him in cold blood--because Upham was the one who insisted he be released before and this allowed him to rejoin the marching Nazi army... and ''back then'' he was going to be executed in cold blood after surrendering because the squad believed he was the one who killed Wade.
* ''Film/TheOutlawJoseyWales'' has a scene where a squad of Confederate rebels have surrendered, and a Union officer has them recite an oath renouncing their allegiance to the Confederacy, and also confess to being murderers. This proves to be meaningless, as a gatling gun hidden in a covered wagon mows down the unarmed rebels on the spot.

[[folder:Live Action Television]]
* In the 2006 series of ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Doctor and his companions encounter the Cybermen alongside a small team of [[LaResistance Freedom Fighters]]. The Doctor, knowing that the Cybermen are ImmuneToBullets, convinces the group to surrender and be taken to become Cybermen ([[ISurrenderSuckers or rather escape before then]]). Unfortunately, the Cybermen had already determined them to be dangerous elements that were to be deleted immediately, despite the Doctor's protests that they surrendered willingly. Fortunately, they manage to escape before they could be executed.
* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', when the Ironborns try to surrender to the Boltons in exchange so they could leave the area unharmed, the Boltons end up killing or flaying them alive regardless.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', [[AC: [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2273 SCP-2273 ("Major Alexei Belitrov, of the Red Army's 22nd Armored Infantry Division")]] ]]. While on a mission inside American territory, SCP-2273 ordered its fellow troops to surrender to the Americans so they could become [=POWs=] and not have to fight any more. Instead, the Americans cold-bloodedly murdered the surrendering soldiers but kept SCP-2273 alive for some reason.

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/DuckDodgersInTheTwentyFourthAndAHalfCentury Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24th and One Half Century]]'', after coming face to face with Gossamer, Dodgers willingly surrendered to Marvin the Martian. Unfortunately, Marvin wasn't allowed to take prisoners (especially cowardly ones), and attempted to blast Dodgers if not for the Cadet.
* In the first ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' OVA, Count Harebourg captures most of the Brotherhood of the Tofu, but orders them left unharmed [[VillainousCrush as a favor to Amalia]]. Flopin and Elely attempt to rescue them, but their effort runs out of steam while attacking the mercenaries left as guards, and surrender on Evangelyne's advice. The mercenaries decide Harebourg's orders do not extend to the two siblings, despite being them being ''[[WouldHurtAChild children]]'', and attempt to throw them into a furnace.

* In the 2006 series of ''Series/DoctorWho'', the Doctor and his companions encounter the Cybermen alongside a small team of Freedom Fighters. The Doctor, knowing that the Cybermen are ImmuneToBullets, convinces the group to surrender and be taken to become Cybermen ([[ISurrenderSuckers or rather escape before then]]). Unfortunately, the Cybermen had already determined them to be dangerous elements that were to be deleted immediately, despite the Doctor's protests that they surrendered willingly. Fortunately, they manage to escape before they could be executed.