I just finished Band of Brothers. During the 10th episode there were some things That I did not understand. I was wondering if someone here who has seen it has has some knowledge of WWII could offer an explanation. I am knowledgeable with WWII but these few things I did not understand.

the first is when Winters is in the giant house over looking the lake with the Nazi Colonel. i understand when Winters lets him keep his Luger. Just like when grant let Lee keep his rifle and his Horse Traveler that mutual soldier respect things. what I don't understand is why they are saluting each other Winters and the Colonel.

And the last thing is at the scene with the checkpoint. A USA soldier is manning the checkpoint with an SS soldier(If I am right the SS soldiers where the trench coats) and they freely talk to each other and have conversation. It is not even September 2nd yet when Japan surrenders the war in Europe just ended and a us soldier and an SS soldier among other Nazi soldier are this friendly. The US soldier also helps the Nazi soldier with the crutches find a ride.

these things have befuddled me, did these to things actually happen after the war ended. us soldiers saluting Nazi soldier ans us soldiers freely working with Nazi soldiers ans both sides and enjoying it like they are friends.

Does this all still apply to that mutual respect sides have for their enemies because they are all soldiers when it comes down to it. Thanks for any help.

You still salute your enemy after they have fallen.  The salute was invented back in the days of knights.  You lifted your visor to show you were a friend.  This turned into the hand salute.  Out of respect even for a fallen enemy you give them a hand salute, "I am a friend."  After a war is over even if bad feelings are harbored as a professional you do not show them.  An enemy is no longer an enemy when the war is done.  Read The Art of War it will also explain a lot.  After a battle is complete you want to remove as many of the common enemy from the zone as possible.  The fewer there are there the less likely they can cause trouble.  Also after a war everyone who is still alive eventually gets to go home.  In WW II we had war criminals so everyone did not get to go home as with any war but the average soldier does though.  I cannot guarantee what happened in Band really happened as I was not there.  But I will bet it happened exactly as it was shone.  I hope this helps.

Quoting tweeter:

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Quoting yodagreensaber:

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the first is when Winters is in the giant house over looking the lake with the Nazi Colonel. i understand when Winters lets him keep his Luger. Just like when grant let Lee keep his rifle and his Horse Traveler that mutual soldier respect things. what I don't understand is why they are saluting each other Winters and the Colonel.

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Does this all still apply to that mutual respect sides have for their enemies because they are all soldiers when it comes down to it.

The saluting and civilities between enemy (or former enemy) has a lot of history behind it.  Honor, duty, professionalism.

Someone else may have a more educated view but i think the basic premise is that the military is simply a tool of political masters.  Let the politicians be bellicose.

The military, at least historically, will be as civil as possible to their opponents as possible.  I don't know if that is still the case (how often have two opposing professional military organizations interacted after a war since WWII - not many i think) but i'd like to think it is possible.

And if i can recommend a film that deals with the subject in the first half of the 20th century i'd suggest: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Quoting SH84:

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Quoting yodagreensaber:

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And the last thing is at the scene with the checkpoint. A USA soldier is manning the checkpoint with an SS soldier(If I am right the SS soldiers where the trench coats) and they freely talk to each other and have conversation. It is not even September 2nd yet when Japan surrenders the war in Europe just ended and a us soldier and an SS soldier among other Nazi soldier are this friendly. The US soldier also helps the Nazi soldier with the crutches find a ride.

Well, first of all, the German solider is not an SS soilder (they had black trench coats), he's a Feldgendarm, a military policeman and some were used (under the supervision of the US troops) to help the US MP (language etc.), they were disbanded in 1948/49.
The disabled solider was discharged from allied camp so he's a civilian at this moment.

so the German soldiers with the green trench coats are not SS. thanks. i know about the grey unifomed Nazis too but was not sure which is SS.

Just out of interest after the end of WW2 in Singapore Japanese Soldiers were used to keep law and order as there were too few allied troops for the job.
Cheers
Kelvin