Colditz (TV Series)

Liberation (1974)

Ed Bishop: Lt. Col. Harrity

Quotes 

• [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.