THE LAST STAND OF CASTLE ITTER 1945: WWII'S LAST AND STRANGEST MAJOR BATTLE

The closing days of the war in Europe provided some of the most dramatic mmoments of the war, and the battle at Castle Itter in the Tyrolean Alps, a well-guarded Nazi "prison" for high-value political prisoners, was no exception. With Hitler's suicide followed by the announcement of Germany's surrender, many German troops began running for cover or surrendering, as did the castle guard at Castle Itter, however, the ever faithfull Waffen-SS had not surrendered and was killing as many prisoners and combatants as they could, The prisoners in the castle knew the Americans were approaching, and sent for help. Some of the prison guards changed allegiance and vowed to protect the prisoners. Soon a mixed crew of Austrian resistance fighters, ex-Nazi's, castle prisoners, including a famous tennis star, and American soldiers were holding off a Waffen-SS forceof 300 seasoned fighters intending to wipe out the castle's defenders- but despite their artillery and numbers, the castle defenders put up an incredible fight. This is the story!

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