Colditz (TV Series)

Liberation (1974)

Jack Hedley: Lt. Col. John Preston

Photos 

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.

• [the Kommandant has surrendered to the Americans and is about to be taken away by them] 

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Well, Kommandant. In four years, this is the first time we've said goodbye. A lot has happened to us.

  Kommandant : This reversal of our positions would seem the least important - anyway, to me. In those years, we have *both* lost something which is more precious than freedom. Your wife, my son. You have shown me the way. That one can survive. Both imprisonment and loss.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Thank you.

  Kommandant : You have won a great victory here. You, yourself.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : One never thinks of it like that. There's no victory in imprisonment.

  Kommandant : I'm quite sure you would not think of it that way, Colonel Preston.

  [the Kommandant salutes Preston, who salutes back] 

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Goodbye, Kommandant.

  Kommandant : Goodbye, Colonel.

  [the Kommandant turns away and goes to join his officers in the Americans' truck] 

• [the Kommandant is pacing up and down, unwilling to look Colonel Preston and Colonel Dodd in the eye; in the background is the noise of heavy guns and aeroplanes] 

  Kommandant : The question which I have asked you here to discuss is not easily for me to formulate. The possibility may arise that arrangements will have to be made if the occupants of this castle pass under different control.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Do you see such an event happening in the near future, Kommandant.

  Kommandant : Only the most short-sighted commander could fail to take the possibility into account.

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : When you say "the occupants of this castle", do you mean us prisoners, you Germans or both?

  Kommandant : If the castle had to be surrendered to the American Forces, my concern would be...

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : But the Russians are nearly as close.

  Kommandant : If we should surrender to the Americans, what guarantees could you offer my staff that they would remain under American or British jurisdiction?

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Guarantees?

  Kommandant : Yes.

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : None. None whatever.

  [Preston and Dodd exchange glances] 

  Lt. Col. John Preston : But under certain conditions, certain representations could be made on your behalf by both Colonel Dodd and myself.

  Kommandant : We would, as prisoners of war, remain in American or British hands?

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Possibly, yes. The first condition would be that defence and administration of this castle pass under our control, effective as of this moment.

  Kommandant : [horrified]  That's out of the question! The Reich has not surrendered and there is still a German garrison here in Colditz.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : In that case, Kommandant, both you and your garrison must take their chances.

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : We're not asking any favours. Just to recognise that the inevitable has come to pass.

  [Dodd stands up] 

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : It's all over for your Germans here in Colditz.

  [Preston also stands up] 

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Outwardly, Kommandant, nothing must appear to have changed. The sentries will do their rounds, but under my command. The armoury will remain locked, but the key will be in my pocket.

  [the Kommandant looks defeated] 

  Kommandant : And there will be no display of Allied flags or white flags of surrender?

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Hardly, with the SS still in the town.

  Kommandant : Very well. I will summon my staff.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : May I take it that your staff and garrison will be informed of the change of state within the hour?

  Kommandant : Yes.

  Lt. Col. John Preston : Thank you, Kommandant.

  Lt. Col. Max Dodd : Thank you, Sir.