surrender
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surrender
The act of giving up the fight in a military conflict and surrendering to the enemy. This often happens through a formal declaration.
Nach wochenlanger Belagerung unterzeichnete der General die bedingungslose Kapitulation.
After weeks of siege, the general signed the unconditional surrender.
surrender
In a figurative sense, giving up or acknowledging one's own defeat in the face of a difficult task, problem, or challenge.
Vor der Fülle an Bürokratie fühlte sich sein Vorhaben wie eine Kapitulation an.
Faced with the amount of bureaucracy, his plan felt like a surrender.
Nouns ending in '-tion' are always feminine (die). They are often derived from a verb, in this case from 'kapitulieren' (to surrender).
Die Kapitulation der Armee erfolgte am frühen Morgen.
The army's surrender took place early in the morning.
In a military context, people often speak of 'bedingungslose Kapitulation' (unconditional surrender). Common verbs are 'die Kapitulation unterzeichnen' (to sign the surrender) or 'jemanden zur Kapitulation zwingen' (to force someone to surrender).
Der Feind forderte die bedingungslose Kapitulation.
The enemy demanded unconditional surrender.
In the figurative meaning, the preposition 'vor' (+ dative) is often used to express to whom or what one admits defeat. It is a 'Kapitulation vor' (surrender in the face of) a challenge.
Seine Entscheidung war eine Kapitulation vor dem finanziellen Druck.
His decision was a surrender in the face of financial pressure.
defeat
Niederlage refers to the outcome of a military conflict: one side has lost. Kapitulation, on the other hand, refers to the act of giving up the fight and surrendering. A Niederlage can therefore lead to a Kapitulation, but the two are not the same act.
Nach der letzten Schlacht erklärte die Armee ihre Kapitulation und legte die Waffen nieder.
After the last battle, the army declared its surrender and laid down its arms.
Nach der letzten Schlacht war die Niederlage der Armee nicht mehr zu verhindern.
After the last battle, the army’s defeat could no longer be prevented.
