Combat soldiers did not keep souveniers...they would get you killed right on the spot if you were captured with them. The word was do not have any guns/cameras/watches/medals/etc on you.
The week or so just before the surrender, that was no longer true as the Germans were in full retreat and many of their units were just bypassed by the Allied forces.
The following is a photo from the Time/Life series which shows a happy GI with his collection of loot! I am sure he told his kids that all were taken from the bodies of SS Officers?
Orv Reichert
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/looter.jpg