[the Kommandant has relinquished control of Colditz to Preston, in return for a guarantee that they will be handed over to the safety of the Americans who have now arrived]
Lt. Col. Harrity: [referring to the Kommandant] What about these guys? Did they treat you all right. Is there anything I should take care of right away?
Lt. Col. John Preston: In what terms?
Lt. Col. Harrity: Justice. Quick, clean, simple. No red tape.
Lt. Col. John Preston: No, Colonel. What they did was normally nothing more than their duty. I request that they be confined and remain in American custody.
Lt. Col. Harrity: They would anyway, but any special reason?
Lt. Col. Max Dodd: Within the limitations of their duty, they co-operated these last days. Saved many lives.
Lt. Col. Harrity: That's all I wanted to know. I imagine they're waiting for some formal kind of procedure. Do you want *me* to take it or do you want to handle it?
Lt. Col. Max Dodd: John?
Lt. Col. John Preston: I think they should surrender to the American 1st Army.
[they all walk over to where the Kommandant and his officers are waiting]
Lt. Col. Harrity: [to the Kommandant] Are you the senior officer here?
Kommandant: Kommandant. Prisoner of War Camp IV-C. Fifteen hundred officers and men, unhurt. Nominal roll herewith.
Lt. Col. Max Dodd: Colonel Harrity, 9th Armoured Division.
[they salute each other]
Lt. Col. Harrity: I'm ready to accept your surrender.
[Ullman passes an official document to Harritty]
Kommandant: [long pause, as he is watched by all the POWs and his own officers] I surrender, on behalf of my officers and myself - on the understanding that we will, as prisoners of war, be treated according to the terms of the Geneva Convention.
Lt. Col. Harrity: Yes, sir.
Lt. Col. Harrity: [turning to one of his own men] Lieutenant! Sir, take charge of these people, will you. Oh, and I don't want them in a POW cage - just keep them with us under guard until we can ship them back to corps, all right.