Meeting on Wedtlenstedter Schleuse (Fuse Canal lock house), 10 April 1945. Leutnant Schmidt (interpreter) carrying a white flag, while General Hobbs and General Harrison backs to the camera.
Account of surrender negotiations between Major General Leland S. Hobbs, Commanding General, 30th Infantry Division and Generallcutnant Karl Vcith, Commander of the Braunschweig Defenses, 10 April 1945, as observed by 1st Lt. John Henderson, 4th Information and Historical Service, 9th U.S. Army:
The advance to the east were practically unopposed to Vechelede. The 126th Cavalry captured the town before canal containing a military hospital. A Gorman medical officer knew the German General was anxious to talk terms of surrender. Our line stopped advance while a Private Solomon of l35th Cavalry conferred with German officials. A conference was arranged for 1900B at 820114, between General Hobbs and General Veith. I was present at the conference having followed the party through no man's land. As our party approached the canal the German general's car was seen coming in from the east. All personnel were unarmed and under cover of a white fiag. Arms and sidearms had been placed in my vehicle.
The meeting took place at a lock on the canal in the portion of the lock house on the east side of the canal. I do not know the composition of the German party other than it consisted of 6 men, the General, a couple of aides, an interpreter, and one other person whom I take to be the political leader of the area. All were in dress unifoms. General Hobbs' party in the conference room consisted of the General, General Harrison, Lt. Col. Hall, Lt. Schmidt (Interpreter), Lt. Henderson (9th Army Historian), Lt Kerrigan (30th Division PRO) and numerous cameramen.
General Veith was a little, undignified man with rather a hesitant halting voice. His words were certainly at the insistance of the tall scar faced officer (Gestapo?) beside him. General Hobbs' voice filled the small second story room as he said, "I am not here to bicker." During the five minute con-sultation between General Veith and staff, General Hobbs and General Harrison discussed methods of taking the place if the deal did not work. As we approached the canal wo could see puffs of smoke and hear deep rumbling explosions. These were bridges along the canal being blown. The original plan had been to move rapidly to the outskirts of town, 'then demand surrender. In light of events which followed I believe that would have been the sounder plan. I think our people could have rushed the bridges rather than permitting the enemy to blow bridges while we negotiated. The return trip was without incident, though roads were clogged with armor and infantry waiting to plunge in if the "plan" didn't work. Also, German planes in the vicinity made things uncomfortable, but our column was not strafed.
Conversation between Major General Leland S. Hobbs, Commanding General, 30th Infantry Division and Generalleutnant Karl Veith at 820114, Germany, 1900B, 10 April 1945:
General Hobbs: I am here to receive the surrender of your general and his troops.
General Veith: We wish the towns to be open and undefended in order to avert war among the civil population. Therefore I offer them as open towns. We wish until 1900B tomorrow to withdraw our troops.
General Hobbs: The terms of the Allies are always unconditional.
General Veith: Yes we know that, but your parliamentarian stated that such could be done in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
General Hobbs: He was making the best statement he could, but it was not based on the facts. He had no authority to say that we would accept anything other than unconditional surrender.
General Veith: Though it is our desire to fight soldier to soldier, we would like to withdraw our soldiers in order to save the civilian population.
General Hobbs: I repeat my terms are unconditional as they have been submitted. The General knows that if he surrenders as a man no harm will be done the city.
General Veith: I fight soldier against soldier and if the civilian population suffers, it is your will.
(The German General asked for five minutes to confer with his staff).
During the intermission General Hobbs requested that his interpreter be prepared to ask the German commander how many troops he had in his command. This the interpreter did during the conference. To this the German General answered, "I would no more tell you than you would tell me how many troops in your command." General Hobbs explained to the interpreter that this question was only to be asked after the surrender had been tendered.
(The negotiations continued at 1916B).
Interpreter: The German General would like to have your name, sir. He has already given you his.
General Hobbs: General Hobbs. H-O-B-B-S.
General Veith: What are the conditions of your offer? (Here the German interpreter interceded). He means what area and what troops do you ask to surrender?
General Hobbs: I ask the surrender of the area and the troops that he (the General) commands.
General Veith: Braunschweig and vicinity will surrender unconditionally at 1200 tomorrow. I will with-draw my troops before the town and those that are in the town.
General Hobbs: No.
General Harrison: (30th's Assistant Division Commander): We don't care about the town. We want your troops.
General Hobbs: I am not here to bicker. I want unconditional surrender or we will continue the cam-paign.
General Veith shrugged his shoulders to indicate non-acceptance.
The American party began to leave. The German interpreter shouted to the American interpreter, "How long will the truce continue?" After conferring with General Hobbs and Lt. Col. Stewart L. Hall, G-2, 30th Infantry Division, who directed the arrangements for the conference, the interpreter replied, "One half hour. It is now 1920B."
Source :
Picture courtesy of Graveland
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/men-out-of-cages
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Cbergabe_der_Stadt_Braunschweig
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=211991
https://www.oldhickory30th.com/BraunschweigFall.htm
http://www.oldhickory30th.com/22_photo_page.htm
