The Battle of Castle Itter: When Americans and Germans Fought Together in WWII
đź“šWhat You Will Learn
- How ideological foes became allies in WWII's twilight.
- The castle's role as a Nazi VIP prison and its dramatic liberation.
- Key heroes like Captain Lee, Major Gangl, and prisoner Jean Borotra.
- Why this battle stands out as WWII's strangest.
đź“ťSummary
ℹ️Quick Facts
- Fought on May 5, 1945, one of WWII's last battles in Europe.
- Only known instance of Americans and Germans fighting side-by-side against SS.
- Defenders: ~36 Americans/Germans + French prisoners vs. 100-200 SS troops; only 1 defender killed.
đź’ˇKey Takeaways
- Unlikely alliance of enemies united to save lives, defying Nazi loyalty.
- French tennis star Jean Borotra ran through enemy lines for reinforcements.
- Captain John Lee earned Distinguished Service Cross; Major Josef Gangl died heroically.
Nestled in Austria's Tyrol region, 14th-century Castle Itter had decayed until restoration in 1878. After Germany's 1938 Anschluss, Nazis leased it as a prison for high-value French captives, including former Prime Minister Paul Reynaud and tennis legend Jean Borotra.
By May 1945, as Allied forces advanced and Hitler died, chaos reigned. Wehrmacht Major Josef Gangl, defying SS fanaticism, sought to protect the prisoners from reprisal killings.
U.S. Captain John 'Jack' Lee Jr. of the 12th Armored Division arrived with tanks after Gangl's plea. Facing narrow roads and weak bridges, Lee brought ~14 Americans, Gangl's men, and German artillerymen—totaling about 36 defenders plus armed French prisoners.
This ragtag force—Americans, Wehrmacht, French VIPs, Czechs, and others—prepared for siege, manning walls with rifles, machine guns, and one Sherman tank.
Dawn on May 5 saw 100-150 Waffen-SS from the 17th Panzergrenadier Division attack, led by OberfĂĽhrer Georg Bochmann. They bombarded with 88mm guns, mortars, grenades, and sniper fire from woods north and west.
Defenders held firm amid chaos, but ammo dwindled and radios failed. Borotra volunteered to dash through SS lines for help from the 142nd Infantry Regiment.
Borotra's mission succeeded; reinforcements smashed an SS roadblock and arrived with armor. Their machine-gun barrage shattered the assault, forcing SS retreat.
Nearly 100 SS were captured; survivors surrendered soon after. Defenders lost only Gangl (protecting Reynaud) and had four wounded—a miraculous win.
Lee received the Distinguished Service Cross. This unique coalition highlighted moral courage over ideology, one of two U.S.-German alliances in WWII.
Detailed in Stephen Harding's 'The Last Battle,' it remains WWII's oddest fight, proving shared humanity in war's final hours.
⚠️Things to Note
- Castle Itter, a 14th-century Austrian fortress, held high-profile French prisoners like ex-PM Paul Reynaud.
- SS attacked with artillery, mortars, and ~100-200 troops led by Georg Bochmann.
- Reinforcements arrived just in time, capturing nearly 100 SS soldiers.