The Battle of Castle Itter — Americans and Germans Fought Together

The strangest battle of WWII: On May 5, 1945 — four days after Hitler's death and one day before Germany surrendered — American soldiers and German Wehrmacht troops literally fought SIDE BY SIDE against Waffen-SS forces to defend Itter Castle in Austria. The castle held high-profile French prisoners including former prime ministers Paul Reynaud and Edouard Daladier, and tennis star Jean Borotra. German Major Josef Gangl defected with his Wehrmacht soldiers to protect the prisoners. Borotra, the tennis player, volunteered to escape the castle to get help (running through German lines) and successfully returned with American reinforcements. Only Gangl died in the fighting.