German nurses captured by American Forces in the hospital of the city of Cherbourg, France.

Harmless POWs

Paratroopers of the 503rd US Parachute Infantry Regiment prepare to board a C-47 Skytrain of the 60th Troop Carrier Group at Aldermaston, in south-east England; 23 September 1942.

Paratroopers ready to board C-47s

The command of the Allies decided to transfer these captured nurses back to the Germans. During a radio exchange, an armistice was reached, and with the participation of Captain Quentin Roosevelt, of the 1st US Infantry Division, son of Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, the nurses were placed in 2 ambulances and returned to the German side near the village of Balleroy area. This incident was covered by the press and served as propaganda for good treatment of German prisoners of war. Meantime, the Army was glad to get rid of them, since they were non-combatants, and would have been a nuisance to hold them...