It’s May 1945; Hitler is dead, and the allied forces are closing in on Berlin. In a matter of days, the war in Europe will be over and the rebuilding can begin. Before the war is over however, the Americans and the Germans will fight together against the SS* at a little know castle in Austria called Itter. Converted into a prison in 1943, Itter which can trace its roots back to the Middle Ages, was converted to a German prison in WWII and was a subunit of the Dachau concentration camp. Ever since its conversion, it has been used to imprison political and military personnel. Imprisoned at Itter were two former French Prime Ministers in Edouard Daladier and Paul Reynaud as well the older sister of current prime minister Charles de Gaulle Marie Agnes Caillou.
The Situation:
During the last days of the war, the castle guards had abandoned their posts, and the remaining prisoners at the castle were in danger of being executed by the Waffen-SS. The situation grew dire when SS troops, aiming to silence the prisoners, approached the castle to retake it and eliminate them. The prisoners were trapped and with the SS and Gestapo secret police lurking nearby, their fate was uncertain. To find help, two French prisoners flee looking for aid and a safe escape from the prison. After a short search the prisoners came upon a German Major named Josef Gangl. Major Gangl had for a while become disillusioned with the Nazis and was working with the Austrian resistance movement. Gangl, who had 20 soldiers realized he would not be able to protect the prisoners with his limited numbers, decided to hoist a white flag and surrender to the nearest American unit. The nearest unit happened to be the 23rd tank battalion led by Captain Jack Lee who was part of a larger operation to secure the region. Upon learning of the situation, Captain Lee, who only had 14 soldiers himself offered to lead a rescue mission.
The Battle:
On the morning of May 5th, the SS officers returned to the Castle and spotted a Sherman tank guarding the entrance. The SS soon realized a prison break was in progress, they open fire with several MG 42 machine guns which could be heard from the surrounding tree lines. The German American Alliance may have underestimated the number of SS soldiers as they numbered around 150. In addition to 150 SS officers and a slew of MG 42 machine guns, the SS also possessed an 88MM gun** which they used to fire upon the tank sending it into flames. Remarkably, the tank crew was able to escape. The SS attempted to mount a siege, but the alliance repeatedly blocked their advance. As the siege raged outside, the prisoners escaped to safety one by one. During the battle there was but one casualty, Gangl. Gangl heroically pushed the French Politician Paul Reynaud out of the line of fire while being shot in the head by a sniper.
What makes the Battle of Castle Itter particularly unique is it saw an extraordinary cooperation between American forces, German soldiers, and French prisoners all working together to hold off the advancing Waffen-SS troops. The American soldiers, led by Captain Lee, were joined by a handful of Wehrmacht soldiers*** and the French prisoners themselves.
Among the Germans who fought alongside the Americans were former soldiers who had been stationed at the castle. The defending force was small and poorly equipped, they miraculously managed to hold out against the much larger Nazi force. The battle lasted for several hours, which was characterized by a desperate defense where the defenders used makeshift weapons and took advantage of the castle’s strategic location.
The attackers were eventually defeated by the American reinforcements who had arrived in time to break the siege. The victory was a rare instance of cooperation between former enemies, and it marked a symbolic end to the war in Europe occurring just days before Germany’s formal surrender on May 8, 1945.
Legacy:
In many ways, the Battle of Castle Itter represents the final moments of Nazi resistance and the historical irony of former enemies banding together to fight the SS. This reflects the rapidly shifting alliances and the complex dynamics of the final days of the war.
Had the SS succeeded in storming the castle, post war France may have looked differently. The French prisoners released this day played key roles in shaping France for the remainder of the 20th and into the 21st century. Today, A nearby memorial honors Gangl and his sacrifice giving his life so others may live.
Antón, J. (2023, March 7). The World War II battle where German and US soldiers joined forces against the Waffen-SS. EL PAÍS English. https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-03-07/the-world-war-ii-battle-where-german-and-us-soldiers-joined-forces-against-the-waffen-ss.html
Bell, B. (2015, May 7). The Austrian Castle where Nazis lost to German-US Force. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32622651
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