U.S. Soldiers and Wehrmacht Team Up in Bizarre WWII Siege at Austrian Castle

On May 5, 1945, mere days before Germany's capitulation in World War II, a remarkable coalition emerged in the Austrian hills. In a noteworthy turn of events during the final stages of the European theater, American soldiers, German Wehrmacht troops, and notable French prisoners of war united to confront a shared adversary—the Waffen-SS. This unprecedented alliance unfolded in what would be remembered as the Battle of Castle Itter, a conflict marked by its surreal and symbolic nature.

Situated above the village of Itter in Tyrol, Castle Itter functioned as a high-profile detention facility during the Nazi era. It housed prominent French figures, including former Prime Ministers Paul Reynaud and Édouard Daladier, Generals Maurice Gamelin and Maxime Weygand, tennis champion Jean Borotra, and the sister of Charles de Gaulle. Despite their status as high-ranking prisoners, execution was not on the immediate agenda for them. However, as the Nazi regime began to collapse in early May, their future became increasingly precarious.

As the Third Reich crumbled, SS guards abandoned their posts, leaving the prisoners to fend for themselves. Andreas Krobot, a Czech prisoner, embarked on a bicycle journey in search of assistance. His efforts led him to connect with an Austrian resistance group and Wehrmacht Major Josef "Sepp" Gangl, who had renounced his allegiance to the Nazis and was now aiming to surrender to the approaching U.S. troops.

Gangl and Krobot made contact with American Captain Jack Lee of the 12th Armored Division in the town of Kufstein. Despite being weary from the ongoing conflict and harboring doubts, Lee consented to make an effort for a rescue. A small group was assembled, comprising three Sherman tanks, a contingent of infantry, and German soldiers under the command of Gangl. An unexpected alliance swiftly made its way to Castle Itter.

Their arrival on May 4 coincided perfectly with the preparations for an impending siege. With a shortage of vehicles for prisoner evacuation and the looming presence of nearby SS units, Lee decided to maintain control of the castle. Defenses were established, featuring Lee’s tank, “Besotten Jenny,” while former prisoners were equipped with abandoned weapons.

In the early hours of May 5, over 100 SS troops launched an attack. Equipped with trucks, machine guns, and an 88mm artillery piece, the forces commenced their assault on the castle. Inside the scene, American forces, along with Wehrmacht defectors and French dignitaries, engaged in a fierce exchange of gunfire. Amid the chaos, communication barriers were dismantled, giving way to hand signals, a sense of urgency, and a collective determination.

Major Gangl was fatally shot by a sniper while attempting to safeguard a VIP. In a critical moment during the siege, as defenders faced dwindling ammunition and the castle endured heavy artillery bombardment, Jean Borotra undertook a perilous mission—navigating through enemy territory in search of reinforcements. He succeeded, guiding U.S. forces back to the castle just in time.

The reinforcements successfully halted the SS assault, forcing the attackers to retreat. In a tragic incident, only one defender, identified as Gangl, lost their life. While four individuals sustained injuries, the castle and its residents were successfully protected. The unusual coalition has remained intact.

Subsequently, the French dignitaries were returned to their home country. Capt. Jack Lee has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery, while the Austrian authorities have posthumously celebrated Gangl as a hero of resistance. 

Castle Itter is a distinctive emblem of the war's tumultuous and unpredictable conclusion, marking a site where adversaries became allies and history experienced a final, unexpected turn.