Colditz 2x13, "Liberation"
The advancing Allied front lines have almost reached Colditz--the only remaining questions are whether the Americans or Russians will get there first, and what the SS might do in a last-ditch defense of the Reich.
The episode opens with the POWs watching SS soldiers who are deploying around Colditz town, and Preston mentioning the possibility that the SS may take over Colditz castle to use it as part of their defense. Later the courtyard is strafed by American planes--the castle is at risk from both sides. The SS order that all Colditz prisoners be "evacuated" in their custody, but the Kommandant, after consultation with Preston and Dodd and an attempt to get his own commanding general to take responsibility for the POWs' safety, refuses to cooperate.
Meanwhie, Phil Carrington is released from solitary and gives some exposition of the chaos he saw while travelling through Germany (including Dresden) on the way to and from his court martial.
The POWs continue to watch the situation through their telescope (as well as, in one out of place and appalling scene, to spy on a woman undressing). The Kommandant, who is also keeping close track of deveopments, orders that all important papers be burned. Conditions in the castle are made even tenser and more confused by the arrival of large numbers of French prisoners, presumably transferred from another camp now behind Allied lines.
In another meeting with Preston and Dodd, the Kommandant agrees to surrender control of the castle to the POWs immediately, provided they attempt to protect his staff from Allied reprisals and keeps them in American rather than Russian custody. Although German sentries and guards will keep up the appearance of normality to avoid attracting SS attention, they'll be under the POWs command from now on and will not have ammunition in their weapons. Preston and Dodd also agree to do nothing potentially provocative such as display national flags or white flags. Preston and his officers make plans for both the maintenance of Colditz's facilities (electricity and water) and for the defense of the castle against the SS if necessary.
As artillery bombardment comes closer and begins to damage the castle, the prisoners and staff move into the cellars, spending an uneasy but basically amicable evening together including the distribution of the last wine from the castle's cellars.
Meanwhile, Phil Carrington leaves Colditz accompanied by a few German guards for appearances and makes his way to the American front lines. When he returns, we learn that he's informed the Americans that Colditz is full of Allied POWs; the commander has asked for the display of Allied flags so that the castle won't be shelled by Allied artillery. The POWs comply, breaking their agreement with the Kommandant.
The POWs continue waiting anxiously for some kind of resolution and talking about what they'll do after the war. Tim says the army's all he's ever known; George that he'll start from scratch and train as a zoologist.
Colditz is finally, undramatically liberated by a single American soldier walking through the inner gate between the Kommandantur and the prisoners' courtyard--the SS have left Colditz town and the outer gate of the castle was undefended. The POWs great him with silent astonishment and then with cheers. Eventually the American commander (Colonel Harrity, the one Phil Carrington met with) arrives, promises transport for the POWs, and accepts the surrender of the Kommandant and his staff. He asks Preston if the POWs were well treated or if they are any problems he ought to "take care of" immediately; Preston says the Germans mostly just did their duty. Harrity orders that his German prisoners be treated respectfully and not put into POW cages as surrendering Germans often were. The Kommandant and Preston say goodbye, saluting each other, and the Americans then depart promising transportation as soon as possible.
In the dorms men are frantically packing, while Tim has liberated a motorcycle and rides it around the courtyard. At last the promised transport arrives, and first the US, then the French POWs leave. Tim also leaves on his motorcycle, which he intends to take back to England, despite Colonel Harrity's warning that the released POWs should stick together. The British then rush to board the trucks except for Preston (and Simon and George, who are waiting for him by the inner gate). The three of them walk away together.
Crossposted at Dreamwidth (
comments); you can comment here or there.
The episode opens with the POWs watching SS soldiers who are deploying around Colditz town, and Preston mentioning the possibility that the SS may take over Colditz castle to use it as part of their defense. Later the courtyard is strafed by American planes--the castle is at risk from both sides. The SS order that all Colditz prisoners be "evacuated" in their custody, but the Kommandant, after consultation with Preston and Dodd and an attempt to get his own commanding general to take responsibility for the POWs' safety, refuses to cooperate.
Meanwhie, Phil Carrington is released from solitary and gives some exposition of the chaos he saw while travelling through Germany (including Dresden) on the way to and from his court martial.
The POWs continue to watch the situation through their telescope (as well as, in one out of place and appalling scene, to spy on a woman undressing). The Kommandant, who is also keeping close track of deveopments, orders that all important papers be burned. Conditions in the castle are made even tenser and more confused by the arrival of large numbers of French prisoners, presumably transferred from another camp now behind Allied lines.
In another meeting with Preston and Dodd, the Kommandant agrees to surrender control of the castle to the POWs immediately, provided they attempt to protect his staff from Allied reprisals and keeps them in American rather than Russian custody. Although German sentries and guards will keep up the appearance of normality to avoid attracting SS attention, they'll be under the POWs command from now on and will not have ammunition in their weapons. Preston and Dodd also agree to do nothing potentially provocative such as display national flags or white flags. Preston and his officers make plans for both the maintenance of Colditz's facilities (electricity and water) and for the defense of the castle against the SS if necessary.
As artillery bombardment comes closer and begins to damage the castle, the prisoners and staff move into the cellars, spending an uneasy but basically amicable evening together including the distribution of the last wine from the castle's cellars.
Meanwhile, Phil Carrington leaves Colditz accompanied by a few German guards for appearances and makes his way to the American front lines. When he returns, we learn that he's informed the Americans that Colditz is full of Allied POWs; the commander has asked for the display of Allied flags so that the castle won't be shelled by Allied artillery. The POWs comply, breaking their agreement with the Kommandant.
The POWs continue waiting anxiously for some kind of resolution and talking about what they'll do after the war. Tim says the army's all he's ever known; George that he'll start from scratch and train as a zoologist.
Colditz is finally, undramatically liberated by a single American soldier walking through the inner gate between the Kommandantur and the prisoners' courtyard--the SS have left Colditz town and the outer gate of the castle was undefended. The POWs great him with silent astonishment and then with cheers. Eventually the American commander (Colonel Harrity, the one Phil Carrington met with) arrives, promises transport for the POWs, and accepts the surrender of the Kommandant and his staff. He asks Preston if the POWs were well treated or if they are any problems he ought to "take care of" immediately; Preston says the Germans mostly just did their duty. Harrity orders that his German prisoners be treated respectfully and not put into POW cages as surrendering Germans often were. The Kommandant and Preston say goodbye, saluting each other, and the Americans then depart promising transportation as soon as possible.
In the dorms men are frantically packing, while Tim has liberated a motorcycle and rides it around the courtyard. At last the promised transport arrives, and first the US, then the French POWs leave. Tim also leaves on his motorcycle, which he intends to take back to England, despite Colonel Harrity's warning that the released POWs should stick together. The British then rush to board the trucks except for Preston (and Simon and George, who are waiting for him by the inner gate). The three of them walk away together.
Crossposted at Dreamwidth (
comments); you can comment here or there.