The Battle of Castle Itter: When U.S. and German Troops Fought the SS Once Their Sherman Was Wrecked

On May 5, 1945, in the final days of World War II in Europe, an extraordinary battle unfolded at Castle Itter in the Austrian Alps. American soldiers from the U.S. 12th Armored Division, German Wehrmacht troops, and French political prisoners joined forces to defend a medieval fortress against an assault by Waffen-SS troops. Led by American officer John C. "Jack" Lee Jr. and German Major Josef Gangl, the unlikely defenders faced a desperate struggle when their M4 Sherman tank, nicknamed "Besotten Jenny," was knocked out while guarding the castle entrance. With their strongest weapon destroyed, ammunition running low, and SS forces closing in, the defenders had to hold their positions until American reinforcements could arrive. Among the French prisoners were former prime ministers Paul Reynaud and Édouard Daladier, whose lives were at risk as the Nazi regime collapsed. This WWII military history documentary examines the Battle of Castle Itter, the tactical challenges of defending a medieval fortress against modern weapons, the destruction of the Sherman tank, Major Gangl's fatal sacrifice, and the arrival of the U.S. 142nd Infantry Regiment. Discover how former enemies fought side by side against the Waffen-SS in one of the most unusual engagements of the European theater-and why the battle became a remarkable episode in the closing days of World War II.