The Siege of Castle Itter: The Day American and German Soldiers Fought Together

You've probably heard countless World War II stories of Americans fighting against Germans, but here's one that breaks the mold. In the war's final days, something extraordinary happened at an Austrian castle that'll make you question everything you know about enemy lines. U.S. troops found themselves shoulder-to-shoulder with Wehrmacht soldiers, defending French VIP prisoners against fanatical SS forces. It wasn't just an unlikely alliance—it was the only recorded instance in the entire war where Americans and Germans fought as comrades. What could've possibly brought these sworn enemies together in the shadow of Nazi defeat?

The Most Unlikely Military Alliance

As World War II neared its end in May 1945, one of history's most extraordinary military alliances emerged at Castle Itter in Austria.

You wouldn't expect to see American soldiers fighting alongside German Wehrmacht troops, but that's exactly what happened in this remarkable instance of unconventional warfare. U.S. forces from the 23rd Tank Battalion joined forces with German Major Josef Gangl's renegade unit to protect French prisoners from an SS assault. The battle exemplified the same spirit of cooperation that led Churchill to ally with Stalin against Nazi Germany despite his long-standing opposition to Bolshevism.

This unique collaboration highlights the moral complexities of war, proving that not all German soldiers aligned with Nazi ideology. The battle was particularly significant because it took place just days before V-E Day, marking one of the final confrontations in the European theater.

Together, they defended the castle against the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division until relief arrived. It's one of only two documented cases where American and German forces fought as allies during World War II, resulting in the capture of 100 SS troops.