Archive footage of German prisoners?

[Lenny Warren]

Hi guys,

I've been wondering. I've been watching a lot of D-Day documentaries recently, saved up on my Sky+ and it dawned on me that a lot of footage of German prisoners shows them without belts or buckles??? Would this be because the belts would have cartridge pouches on them so were removed with any weapons????

[Wagriff]

Belts were removed for many reasons, but yes-they usually came off when removing their side arms, etc. Much easier to simply drop a belt with a P38 on it rather than take time and unhook it and slide off the gun. Belts could also be used for weapons-especially with a heavy steel buckle on them. Suicides were another-although lesser-consideration factor.

[Ben Evans]

Could be Lenny, on the other hand I have seen pics of POW's with belts on with bread bag attached and gas canisters, sone with A frames with bedding, zelts etc. They could disarm them but they had to leave their personal possessions and food clothing etc according to the Geneva convention (apparently!)

[timothy]

Lenny I once worked with a vetern MP from 3rd armored division. He told me that belts were removed to keep prisoners from hanging them selves and the buckles could be used as a weapon especially if they sharpened the edges. I obtained a Luftwaffe EM tunic from him with lower pocket flaps cut off and he stated that was so they could look in them for contraband without unbuttoning them. timothy

[kirby]

Remember the movie Sargent York? When he captures a bunch of Germans he tells them to drop their equipment. They just drop everything were they stood and he marches them off walking over their equipment. I think if you surrendered in combat conditions it might have happened like that. At the end of the war with a mass surrender it might be a lot different and a little better organized.