The Strange Battle at the Castle Itter

It is May 1945; Hitler is dead, and the allied forces are closing in on Berlin.  The Russians from the East, the Americans and British from the west.  In a matter of days, the war in Europe will be over and the rebuilding can begin.  Before the war is over, 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 was used to imprison politicians and military personnel the Nazi’s felt they could use as bargaining chips.  Imprisoned at Itter was 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.

During the last days of the war, Nazi SS guards were fleeing concentration camps throughout the Third Reich as not to be caught by the allied forces.  In some cases, the SS were burning their documents and killing as many prisoners as they could.  The situation was no different at the Castle Itter.  The high-profile French prisoners were trapped and with nothing but SS and Gestapo secret police in the surrounding forest, their fate was uncertain.  To find help, two French prisoners flee the prison looking for anybody who could aid 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, having about 20 soldiers he could trust and realizing he would not be able to protect the prisoners with his limited numbers, Gangl decides to hoist a white flag and find the nearest American unit.  The nearest unit happened to be the 23^rd tank battalion led by Captain Jack Lee.  After a brief explanation, Lee who only had 14 soldiers at his side offered to lead a rescue mission.  Captain Lee knew to secure the prisoners, there would be resistance from the SS in the area.  The Americans accompanied by Gangl would park a Sherman tank close to the Entrance of the castle to provide cover as the rescue mission would unfold.

On the morning of 5 May, the SS officers return to the Castle possibly finish off the prisoners.  As the SS return, they spot a Sherman tank guarding the entrance to the castle. Realizing a prison break was in progress, the SS 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 is a lethal tank destroyer.  After spotting the Sherman, the SS fire upon the tank sending it into flames.  Remarkably, the tank crew was able to escape.  The SS tried to mount a siege, but the American German alliance repeatedly block their advance.  As the siege rages outside, the prisoners escape to safety one by one.  During the battle there is only one casualty and that is Gangl.  Gangl heroically pushes the French Politician Paul Reynaud out of the line of fire while being shot in the head by a sniper.  It is interesting from a historical point of view that one of the last casualties in WWII was a decorated officer of the third Reich saving the life of a former French Prime Minister.

Had the SS succeeded in storming the castle, post war France may have had a different look.  The French prisoners released this day played key roles in shaping France for the remainder of the 20^th and into the 21^st 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