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Where the Nazis Surrendered
After examining Camp Cleveland, we went to "the little red
school-house" where the Germans surrendered. It is not a little
red school-house; it is a fairly large building built of red brick,
rectangular in shape, and resembles one of the buildings at Stan-
ford University at Palo Alto. The surrender room is about 40
feet wide and 60 feet long, and has maps all over the wall. It
was formerly staff headquarters for our Army. They took
pictures of us standing behind the surrender table.
Afterward we inspected the large salvage depot where all of
the soldiers who come into the camp turn in their clothes, shoes,
guns, equipment, etc. Everything imperfect is re-salvaged. All
the equipment is used wherever possible and nothing is wasted.
Old, worn-out tires are used to half-sole the shoes of prisoners
of war. Clothes are re-woven; all uniforms laundered and
cleaned; guns oiled and put in shape; raincoats repaired. One
sees blood-covered tunics and cartridge belts being reprocessed;
also typewriters captured from the Germans that had been made
for the conquered countries.
After visiting this marvelous installation, we went to the
Cliquot wine cellars and were told that the supply of champagne
was adequate in Reims; that the Germans had to move out so
fast they could not remove it, and that wine shipments to
America would commence shortly.
We dined with General Thrasher in a villa owned by the owner
of the Veuve Cliquot Company-a gorgeous home indeed.
General Lord, who also occupies a beautiful home owned by
the owner of the largest grocery chain in France, at luncheon told
us there is a crying need for USO shows and that the American
public should support the USO more today than ever, as it is
most important to keep the morale of the boys at a high pitch.
After the excitement of war, idleness in these camps is devasta-
ting to the men.
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