Fight for Itter 1945: Wehrmacht vs US Army vs SS
Wehrmacht and U.S. Army Unite to Defend ’Honorary Prisoners’ at Itter Castle
In a dramatic turn of events in May 1945, soldiers from the German Wehrmacht and the U.S. Army found themselves fighting side-by-side to protect a group of prominent prisoners held at itter Castle in Tyrol, austria, against a superior waffen-SS force.
Unlikely Alliance Forms Amidst nazi Collapse
As the third reich crumbled on May 5, 1945, pockets of fanatical SS units continued to enforce brutal orders. One such order was the liquidation of “honorary prisoners” imprisoned at Itter Castle, near Wörgl and Kufstein. This unlikely alliance between German and American soldiers arose to thwart this deadly command.
This wasn’t the first instance of Germans and americans cooperating against the SS in the war’s final days. The ”Operation Cowboy,” which rescued Lipizzaner horses from Bohemia,saw similar collaboration. However, unlike the Hostau stud farm, which was under Wehrmacht control, Itter Castle was an SS-run facility, formerly a luxury hotel repurposed as an outer subcamp of Dachau.
According to historian Chris Helmecke, from the Center for Military history and social Sciences of the Bundeswehr, the SS command at Itter was led by Hauptsturmführer Sebastian Wimmer. Wimmer, with approximately 15 SS soldiers and 30 female inmates from Flossenbürg concentration camp, guarded a group of high-profile prisoners interned at the castle as 1943.
A Motley Crew of Captives
the “honorary prisoners” included prominent figures such as Édouard Daladier, former French Prime Minister and signatory of the Munich Agreement, and his successor, Paul Reynaud. General Maxime Weygand, who surrendered to the Wehrmacht in 1940, was also among the captives, along with his predecessor Maurice Gamelin. François de la Rocque,a former leader in the Vichy regime,and tennis star Jean Borotra,also a vichy government official,were also held at Itter. Adding to the mix was marie-Agnès Caillau, sister of General de Gaulle and a leader in the Free French movement.
Desperate Measures for Survival
with the SS leadership at Itter, including Eduard, fleeing in the face of the advancing U.S. troops, the prisoners and their service staff feared for their lives. Rumors of a Nazi “Alpine Fortress” and merciless execution orders fueled their desperation.
One concentration camp prisoner risked his life to reach the Americans, traveling to Innsbruck after finding the nearby town of Wörgl occupied by the Waffen-SS. An American squad was dispatched, but was forced to turn back due to German resistance.
Wehrmacht Officer Seeks american Aid
Simultaneously occurring, the prisoners contacted Major Josef gangl, a highly decorated Wehrmacht officer who had joined the Austrian resistance. Recognizing the imminent danger to Itter Castle, Gangl decided to surrender to the Americans and request their assistance.
Gangl met First Lieutenant John Lee of the 12th U.S. Tank Division in Kufstein. Lee, after convincing his commander, accompanied Gangl with a Sherman tank and a handful of GIs to itter. The castle’s location on a mountain spur, with a single access road, favored the defense. Lee positioned his tank to block the road, while barbed wire and open spaces around the castle provided additional protection. The castle’s thick medieval walls offered further defense against light weaponry.
The Battle of itter Castle
Lee organized a defense force comprised of two dozen Wehrmacht and U.S. Army soldiers, along with prisoners who had armed themselves with weapons left behind by the fleeing SS. According to Helmecke, SS Haupsturmführer kurt-Siegfried Schrader, recovering from wounds at Itter, also participated in the defense.
On the morning of May 5th, over 100 soldiers from the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen,” reinforced by Wehrmacht soldiers, launched an attack to carry out the order to kill the prisoners. After an initial failed attempt, a major assault commenced around noon. The Sherman tank was disabled by a tank defense cannon, and the defenders lost radio contact.
Helmecke notes the surreal nature of the defense,with former French Prime Minister Reynaud fighting alongside Wehrmacht soldiers against the SS. Reynaud reportedly quipped, “Unluckily, I cannot confirm that I killed an enemy.” Major Gangl, however, was killed by a headshot.
As ammunition dwindled, Jean Borotra, disguised as a farmer, escaped the castle and reached the advancing American tanks, who then accelerated their advance.The SS attackers ceased their assault upon the arrival of the American reinforcements around 4 p.m. More than 100 SS soldiers were captured.
Legacy of the Battle
Major Gangl, the only defender who died in the “Battle of Itter,” is remembered as a hero of the Austrian resistance, with a street named after him in Wörgl.However, his motivations remain a subject of debate.
The Swedish metal band Sabaton immortalized the battle in their 2016 song “The Last Battle,” singing of the unlikely alliance between American and German forces. Though, Helmecke cautions against romanticizing the Wehrmacht’s role, noting that Wehrmacht units also participated in the attack on the castle, while a member of the Waffen-SS was involved in the defense.
Here’s a Q&A style blog post based on the provided article, designed to be informative, engaging, adn SEO-optimized, while focusing on E-E-A-T:
The Unlikely Alliance: The Battle of Itter Castle – A History in Questions & Answers
Welcome to a captivating and frequently enough overlooked story from the closing days of World War II: the Battle of Itter Castle. This extraordinary event saw American soldiers and, surprisingly, German Wehrmacht troops fighting side-by-side against a common enemy. I’m going to take you through this astonishing story, answering your questions and providing a deeper understanding of this unique moment in history.
Q: What was the Battle of Itter Castle?
A: The Battle of Itter castle was a small but historically meaningful battle fought on May 5, 1945, in Austria. It’s notable for being a rare instance of U.S. Army soldiers and German Wehrmacht soldiers fighting together against the Waffen-SS to defend “honorary prisoners” held at Itter Castle.
Q: Where is Itter Castle located?
A: Itter Castle is located in the Tyrol region of Austria, near the towns of Wörgl and Kufstein. Its strategic position on a mountain spur contributed to its defensibility.
Q: Who were the “honorary prisoners” held at Itter Castle?
A: The “honorary prisoners” were a group of high-profile individuals, primarily from France, who were deemed crucial enough to be held by the Nazis. They included:
Édouard Daladier (Former French Prime Minister)
Paul Reynaud (Former French Prime Minister)
General Maxime Weygand (Surrendered to Wehrmacht in 1940)
Maurice Gamelin (General, preceding Weygand)
François de la rocque (Vichy regime leader)
Jean Borotra (Tennis Star, also a Vichy government official)
* Marie-Agnès Caillau (Sister of General de Gaulle and a leader in the Free French movement)
Q: Why were these prominent figures imprisoned at Itter Castle?
A: These individuals were considered politically significant by the Nazi regime. Holding them hostage provided potential leverage or, in the final days of the war, a means to try to prevent their freedom that could lead to their ability to damage nazi plans.
Q: What led to the alliance between the U.S. Army and the Wehrmacht?
A: As the Third Reich crumbled in May 1945, fanatical SS units received orders to liquidate the prisoners, including the “honorary prisoners” at Itter Castle. major Josef Gangl, a highly decorated Wehrmacht officer who had joined the Austrian resistance and recognized the danger, contacted the Americans to seek their assistance. first Lieutenant John Lee of the 12th U.S. Tank Division and Gangl then worked together to defend the castle.
Q: Who was Major Josef Gangl?
A: Major Josef Gangl was a Wehrmacht officer who, recognizing the imminent threat to the prisoners at Itter Castle, actively sought American aid to protect them. He played a pivotal role in coordinating the defence and is remembered as a hero by the austrian resistance.
Q: How did the defense of Itter Castle unfold?
A: A small defense force comprised of U.S.soldiers, Wehrmacht soldiers, and armed prisoners prepared for the SS attack. First Lieutenant John Lee utilized his Sherman tank.The SS began their assault on the morning of May 5th. The battle saw intense fighting,with the Sherman tank eventually being disabled. despite heavy fire, the defenders held out until Jean Borotra managed to escape, alerted the approaching American forces, and reinforcements arrived at 4 p.m., ending the engagement and pushing the German attackers back.
Q: Who was the leader of the SS forces at Itter?
A: According to historian Chris Helmecke,the SS command at Itter was led by Hauptsturmführer Sebastian Wimmer.
Q: What role did the Waffen-SS play in the attack on Itter Castle?
A: The attack on Itter Castle was launched by over 100 soldiers from the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen,” reinforced by Wehrmacht soldiers.Their mission was to eliminate the “honorary prisoners.”
Q: Was there any Wehrmacht involvement on the side of the attackers?
A: Yes. It’s critically importent to note that while Wehrmacht soldiers fought alongside the americans, the initial article states “reinforced by Wehrmacht soldiers,” indicating they were part of the attack force alongside the SS. This adds complexity to the narrative, highlighting the chaotic nature of the war’s final days.
Q: Did anyone die in this battle?
A: Yes, major josef Gangl was killed by a headshot during the fighting. He was the only defender to die in the battle.
Q: What happened to the SS soldiers who attacked Itter Castle?
A: After the arrival of American reinforcements, the SS attackers ceased their assault, and over 100 SS soldiers were captured.
Q: What is the legacy of the Battle of Itter Castle?
A: The Battle of Itter Castle is a remarkable example of unlikely alliance and an inspiring moment in history. Major gangl is revered as a hero by the Austrian resistance and a street in Wörgl is named after him. The battle has been immortalized in song by the Swedish metal band Sabaton, in their 2016 song, “The Last Battle.” Though, historical evaluations emphasize the need to remember the atrocities committed by all, including the Wehrmacht, during the war.
Q: Were there any other instances of U.S. and Wehrmacht co-operation?
A: The article mentions “Operation Cowboy,” which rescued Lipizzaner horses from Bohemia, as a similar example of cooperation between the Germans and Americans against the SS in the war’s final days.
Q: How can I learn more about the Battle of Itter castle?
A: There are numerous resources available. beyond the source material for this blog post, which includes historians and researchers, you can find documentaries, articles in historical journals, and books that delve more deeply into the events.
This Q&A format provides a complete overview, highlighting key aspects of the battle and answering common questions. The inclusion of specific names, dates, and details, as well as the cautionary note about the Wehrmacht’s role, adds to the trustworthiness and educational value of the post.