Our German prisoners were treated so well in comparison with the way our own boys formerly were handled that it caused much comment among the enlisted personnel of the hospital. Many of them could not understand why American boys who were still injured still had to live in ward tents while enemy injured were treated in beautiful buildings. Perhaps it was good propaganda on our part, but it didn't please the men of the American Medical Corps.
With the surrender of the German troops, travel restrictions were lifted and we were thereby given an opportunity to visit any town in North Africa. The following is a description of the more important towns in Tunisia immediately after cessation of hostilities.
Tunis, the capital and largest city in the country was untouched except for its docks. For several days after the Germans surrendered it marked time, but within a week, stored began to open, people donned their best clothes, and civilization once again returned to Tunis. Within a short time, the American Red Cross had opened a serviceman's club where soldiers could have a meal, play ping pong, take showers and otherwise cool their heels. Tunis was the one remaining city on this part of the continent which resembled anything which we knew back in the states. The one lasting impression of Tunis was its clean streets, fast women and well-dressed men.
Bizerte was another story. Once a thriving seaport town, the best port in the country and a modern city, it was leveled to the ground by the Allied Air Forces. There wasn't a building which remained untouched by bombs or shell fire. It really was a ghost town -- bombed churches, very few people roaming the streets, the only structure still standing, strange as it may seem, was the monument built in honor of those soldiers of Bizerte who gave their lives during the first World War, boats of all descriptions riddled with bullets (these probably were the boats which the Germans intended to use in their evacuation from Africa but were unable), walls blown out of buildings which left only a cross-section of each room. The general impression of Bizerte was one of loneliness and despair, the only signs of life being the chirping of the birds who seemed to tell us about the terrible events of the past few months.
Ferryville was a thriving country town, similar to one which we would find in the states. Since it was untouched by war (the American Army bypassed Ferryville in its dash to Bizerte), business was booming and many articles of civilian wear could be purchased in its stores.
Mateur was nearly as bad as Bizerte. It was here where the Germans fought their last organized battle. The Arab inhabitants were returning to normal. Long lines of Arabs, evidently bringing their money out of hiding to redeposit in their banks, stood in front of the banks for days at a time.
Leaving Tunis, one came to the airport which was partly ruined when it was attacked by the American planes in an attempt to prevent the last remaining Germans in Africa from fleeing by plane. As a result, more than 200 planes were wrecked before they had a chance to take off.
Continuing on this road, one comes to the ancient and famous town of Carthage. In spite of its closeness to Tunis, it remained intact and was a popular sightseeing spot for the American Army of tourists stationed nearby. It was here, among many other ancient ruins, where the only tennis court in Africa still stands, well-kept but unplayed upon.
Our stay in Mateur was drawing to a close as we had performed our function of a station hospital for the German Army. The one characteristic of this area was the annoyance of pests. The only fly in the ointment of an otherwise pleasant stay were the flies themselves. They were much more annoying than the dreaded Anophales. They hounded us day and night. The only protection we had from them at night was the mosquito netting while during the day, it was a constant battle between the flies and the men. During mealtimes, it seemed to be a race between the fly and the soldier to determine who would get to the food first. Very often, loud words of indignation would emanate from the mess tent followed by a cussing soldier emptying the contents of his messkit into the trash barrel.
In general, Mateur was a very beautiful site, but with time, impatience got the best of us and we were desirous of participating in bigger and better things. We soon had our opportunity to do so.
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