The purpose of this report is to show the exploitation of heritage in conflict and in war. This demonstrates the importance of heritage for military and civil defence. The purpose is also to discuss how we can create a better understanding around these questions in the future. The text focuses in particular on why heritage becomes a target during wars. A key to this understanding is knowledge around how different people and groups value heritage and how these values are exploited, to reach particular goals. Motives and methods are examined through the following areas: history (re)writing; psychological effects, ethnical and cultural cleansing, theft and illegal trade, protection of soldiers and military use; protection and conservation; and heritage post-conflict. Discussing these areas through the lens of heritage studies, as well as research connected to geopolitics and military strategy, can broaden the discourse around these questions. The report also presents thoughts for further research. Deepening the knowledge and understanding of how heritage is exploited during conflict and war will make it easier to discover this kind of usage as well as help creating a more resilient society against these kinds of acts. In the end, an increased knowledge around these issues can help lessen the effects of, or even avoid, damage to heritage during war.