Dark5 | 5 Strangest Battles of WW2 @dark5tv | Uploaded 3 years ago | Updated 1 day ago
The Battle of Castle Itter is the only known World War II encounter in which American and German forces fought together against Nazi SS protection squadrons. It took place on May 5, 1945, in the village of Itter, in the Austrian North Tyrol, days after Berlin had surrendered.
The Castle of Itter dates back to the Feudal Age. In 1940, it was leased by the Germans from its owner to use as a prison for high-profile French prisoners.
In February 1943, it was requisitioned by the Wehrmacht armed forces and became known as an Evakuierungslager, or evacuation camp.
Under direct orders of Heinrich Himmler, the Supreme Leader of the SS, high-value prisoners of several nationalities, especially French, were transferred to the castle. Itter was then put under the operational control of the Dachau concentration camp, which was just 90 miles to the northwest.
By early 1945, Germany’s defeat was imminent. The SS Totenkopf officers began to flee the castle, leaving the French prisoners behind to fend for themselves. The French then stormed into the armory and picked up as many weapons and ammunition as they could.
The prisoners were ready to flee Itter, but there was a problem. The surrounding area was filled with Waffen-SS soldiers. Electrician Zoonimir Cuckovic, a member of the Yugoslav communist resistance, volunteered to go and find Allied troops that could help with their liberation.
Cuckovic eventually found a surrendered group of Wehrmacht soldiers. Its major, Josef "Sepp" Gangl, directed him to recently-taken Innsbruck, where he could find a US garrison. Gangl and some of his men also jumped into the truck, hoping to improve their survival chances by joining the victorious Americans.
Halfway through the journey, the men encountered elements of the 103rd Infantry Division. After putting a plan together, they raced back to Castle Itter, meeting plenty of enemy fire along the way.
Major Gangl, carrying a huge white flag, retold the Castle Itter story to Allied commands. First Lieutenant Jack Lee volunteered to lead the mission, taking two Sherman tanks, 14 US soldiers, and ten former German artillerymen.
When they reached the secluded castle, Lee and Gangl were received by the political prisoners. They were not expecting a group of American and German soldiers working together.
Lieutenant Lee and Major Gangl were informed that more than 100 Waffen-SS soldiers guarded the zone and could attack any minute. The small force decided to occupy the castle and wait for reinforcements.
Within minutes, a fierce battle began. Fire from the tree-line surrounding the castle hit Major Gangl and some Wehrmacht soldiers. An 88-millimeter anti-tank gun then blew apart one of the American tanks, and the SS troops began to advance.
The small German-American force was running out of men and ammunition when a relief column arrived and put an end to the siege.
Lieutenant Lee was soon promoted to Captain, and before he passed almost three decades later, he would say about the joint battle (QUOTE): “Well, it was just the damnedest thing.”
The Battle of Castle Itter is the only known World War II encounter in which American and German forces fought together against Nazi SS protection squadrons. It took place on May 5, 1945, in the village of Itter, in the Austrian North Tyrol, days after Berlin had surrendered.
The Castle of Itter dates back to the Feudal Age. In 1940, it was leased by the Germans from its owner to use as a prison for high-profile French prisoners.
In February 1943, it was requisitioned by the Wehrmacht armed forces and became known as an Evakuierungslager, or evacuation camp.
Under direct orders of Heinrich Himmler, the Supreme Leader of the SS, high-value prisoners of several nationalities, especially French, were transferred to the castle. Itter was then put under the operational control of the Dachau concentration camp, which was just 90 miles to the northwest.
By early 1945, Germany’s defeat was imminent. The SS Totenkopf officers began to flee the castle, leaving the French prisoners behind to fend for themselves. The French then stormed into the armory and picked up as many weapons and ammunition as they could.
The prisoners were ready to flee Itter, but there was a problem. The surrounding area was filled with Waffen-SS soldiers. Electrician Zoonimir Cuckovic, a member of the Yugoslav communist resistance, volunteered to go and find Allied troops that could help with their liberation.
Cuckovic eventually found a surrendered group of Wehrmacht soldiers. Its major, Josef "Sepp" Gangl, directed him to recently-taken Innsbruck, where he could find a US garrison. Gangl and some of his men also jumped into the truck, hoping to improve their survival chances by joining the victorious Americans.
Halfway through the journey, the men encountered elements of the 103rd Infantry Division. After putting a plan together, they raced back to Castle Itter, meeting plenty of enemy fire along the way.
Major Gangl, carrying a huge white flag, retold the Castle Itter story to Allied commands. First Lieutenant Jack Lee volunteered to lead the mission, taking two Sherman tanks, 14 US soldiers, and ten former German artillerymen.
When they reached the secluded castle, Lee and Gangl were received by the political prisoners. They were not expecting a group of American and German soldiers working together.
Lieutenant Lee and Major Gangl were informed that more than 100 Waffen-SS soldiers guarded the zone and could attack any minute. The small force decided to occupy the castle and wait for reinforcements.
Within minutes, a fierce battle began. Fire from the tree-line surrounding the castle hit Major Gangl and some Wehrmacht soldiers. An 88-millimeter anti-tank gun then blew apart one of the American tanks, and the SS troops began to advance.
The small German-American force was running out of men and ammunition when a relief column arrived and put an end to the siege.
Lieutenant Lee was soon promoted to Captain, and before he passed almost three decades later, he would say about the joint battle (QUOTE): “Well, it was just the damnedest thing.”
