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

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

Jon Hagadorn

Society & Culture, History

4.4 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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!

Check out our website at www.bestof1001stories.com for many more "Last Stand" stories!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories, and Mysteries podcast. Today, a comprehensive account of the Battle of Castle Iter, a unique engagement that took place on May 5, 1945, during the final days of World War II in Europe.
0:20.2	It details how a coalition of American soldiers, German Vermac defectors,
0:25.6	Austrian resistance fighters, and recently liberated French prisoners of war
0:29.9	defended Castle Iter together against an attacking force of Wapun SS troops.
0:36.2	Our story outlines the background of Castle Iter as a high-profile prison, the events
0:41.1	leading up to the battle, including attempts to seek allied aid, and the fierce combat itself,
0:46.7	which saw an unprecedented alliance of former adversaries.
0:51.0	Our title, The Last Stand of Castle Iter, one of the strangest and last battles of World War II.
1:40.1	Music Welcome, Factorily. Welcome fellow history enthusiasts and curious minds to a journey into one of the most remarkable and perplexing chapters of World War II, the Battle of Castle Iter.
1:46.3	I'm your host, John Hagadorn, and this year we're celebrating 10 years of sharing history with you at 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories and Mysteries podcast. It's been a fantastic journey so far,
1:53.9	thanks to each and every one of you. This summer, we are presenting our summer of last stands,
2:00.0	bringing you epic adventures filled with
2:01.7	first-hand accounts to put you right in the action. We go to the source, giving you the feeling
2:07.7	you're there. Today, the curtain rises on a dramatic final act of World War II, and our focus
2:15.5	narrows to a remote Austrian stronghold called Castle Iter.
2:20.4	They say that politics and war make for strange bedfellows. How true, in this case. Here, in the
2:27.5	waning days of the conflict, an unprecedented alliance formed amidst the chaos, featuring figures
2:33.3	who would forever etch their personal
2:34.9	experiences into the annals of history, were pulling back the veil to share their very words,
2:40.4	untouched and raw, direct from the source. As you are passionate and insightful historian,
2:46.8	I invite you to close your eyes and listen to the adventure before you, a true story that defies
2:52.1	belief and reveals the extraordinary power of human courage and unlikely alliances.
	...

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