[Video] The Battle for Castle Itter – “The Last Battle” of WWII

View Full

WWII Playlist

View Full

WWII Playlist

The Battle for Castle Itter – “The Last Battle” of WWII

In the final days of World War II, deep in the Austrian Alps, one of the most incredible—and unlikely—battles of the entire war took place.

It was May 5th, 1945. Hitler was dead. Germany was crumbling. But at a small fortress called Castle Itter, the war had one more twist to deliver.

This medieval castle had been turned into a Nazi prison, holding high-value French captives—including former prime ministers, generals, and even tennis champions. As SS forces retreated, they planned to kill the prisoners rather than let them go free.

What happened next defied all logic.

A small team of American soldiers, led by Captain Jack Lee, joined forces with anti-Nazi German troops, a few Austrian resistance fighters, and—believe it or not—the French prisoners themselves.

Together, they prepared to defend the castle from a determined SS attack.

With a single Sherman tank, a handful of rifles, and sheer determination, they faced down the enemy.

This was the only time in history that American troops fought to defend a medieval castle—and they weren’t alone. Their German allies, just days earlier considered enemies, now stood beside them.

The SS launched wave after wave of assaults—but the defenders held firm.

Eventually, reinforcements arrived. The attackers were pushed back, the French prisoners were saved, and the bizarre alliance emerged victorious.

The Battle for Castle Itter—sometimes called “The Last Battle” in Europe—stands as a symbol of courage, humanity, and unity in one of the most chaotic moments in modern history.

Sometimes, the strangest stories are the truest ones.