The German Army howitzer positions were a mess, with howitzers overturned by tanks everywhere, and groups of German artillerymen squatting on the ground surrendering.
Colonel Brown simply ordered them to surrender their weapons and then blow up the cannons before letting them go.
Western European countries are relatively humane towards prisoners of war, and their combat principles somewhat reflect the "knight spirit."
In their minds, combat is one thing, fighting the enemy for the nation with all their heart and soul is expected, just like knights bleeding for the emperor, it's a kind of honor, a spirit.
But if the defeat cannot be reversed and the outcome cannot be changed, then one should surrender. After surrendering, they are no longer fighters and should treat each other kindly.
...
Berlin Wilhelm Street, German Army General Staff Headquarters.
