When Wehrmacht and US Teamed Up
The Battle of Castle Itter occurred near the end of World War II on May 5, 1945.
It saw American and German Wehrmacht forces fighting side by side. It is the only time this happened during the entire war. This strange alliance was formed in order to defend Castle Itter, a medieval fortress in Austria, against an assault by SS troops.
Castle Itter was being used by the Germans as a prison for high-profile French prisoners, including former prime ministers, generals, and a tennis star. An SS division was dispatched to the castle to kill the prisoners. In order to defend the castle, a German Wehrmacht major, Josef Gangl, who had defected to the Austrian resistance, formed an unlikely alliance with the American soldiers led by Captain John C. Lee. The combined force, along with the armed French VIP prisoners, held the castle against the attacking SS division until relief from the American army arrived.
The book, “The Last Battle” by Stephen Harding accurately lays out the details of this incredible battle where The Americans, The French, The Wehrmacht and an SS Officer fought together to defend the lives of French VIPs. Any errors or omissions in the story are entirely our own.
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