In "All Quiet on the Western Front," Paul Baumer and company consider killing a wounded comrade because they assume he will die a slow death in a hospital otherwise. Were "mercy killings" like this actually not unheard of/common at all in either World War?

by ChewiestBroom

I'm just curious, as it does seem plausible, but I find it hard to believe that many soldiers would blow a friendly soldier's brains out because they just assume he'd rather not die in a field hospital. Hopefully not too specific a question to answer.

du44

Semi related question, in the movie Memphis Belle, they debated dropping a crewman out with a parachute in the hope that he would receive medical attention soon yet be a POW instead of wait until they got back to England. Is this true?