Key Takeaways
- The Battle of Castle Itter was a unique WWII engagement in Austria.
- German Wehrmacht troops, Americans, and French prisoners allied against the Nazi SS.
- Castle Itter functioned as a VIP prison for high-value French POWs.
- Desperate calls for aid led to the formation of an unlikely defense force.
- The battle involved heroic defense, a German major's sacrifice, and American relief.
Deep Dive
- Castle Itter, with origins in the 13th century, was used by the Nazis as a VIP prison from 1943, connected to the Dachau concentration camp.
- Notable prisoners included two French generals, two former French prime ministers, a tennis star turned politician, and Charles de Gaulle's sister.
- As May 1945 approached, with Germany's defeat imminent, prisoners feared an attack from SS members determined to fight until the end.
- On May 2nd, Eduard Vitter, administrator of the Dachau concentration camp, arrived at Castle Itter.
- Vitter had previously escaped Allied forces after Dachau's liberation and ordered the execution of 2,000 prisoners.
- He subsequently died by suicide at Castle Itter shortly after his arrival.
- After Vitter's death and the castle guards' departure, a Yugoslavian handyman volunteered to seek help from approaching American troops.
- The handyman successfully reached American Major John T. Kramer, who organized a small detachment of tanks to assist the trapped prisoners.
- Separately, the castle's cook went for help and encountered German Major Sepp Gangl, a defected SS officer leading pro-Allied troops.
- German Major Sepp Gangl and American Captain Jack C. Lee Jr., along with soldiers from their companies, formed a mixed group.
- They advanced toward Castle Itter, arriving approximately 12 hours before a Waffen-SS assault began.
- During the intense battle, defenders used limited arms against heavy artillery and ran low on ammunition.
- Major Gangl was killed by a sniper, leaving Captain Lee to command the castle's defense.
- Following Gangl's death, Captain Lee planned to draw the SS into a narrow passage.
- The situation was dire until Major Kramer's column of tanks arrived, attacking the SS from the rear and ending the siege.
- Despite the intense fighting, only Major Gangl was noted as a casualty.
- Captain Lee received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the battle.