[History] 76 years ago today, one of the goddamn weirdest battles of World War II was fought.
The one where the US Army, an SS officer, French (mostly political) POWs, and Wehrmacht soldiers defended a medieval castle against a division of SS Panzergrenadiers.
Not only is it the only time during the war when American and German troops fought on the same side, it also remains the only time in history the US Army fought to defend a medieval castle.
My only complaint with that article is that it kinda fucks up what Gangl was doing when they encountered the Americans.
He and his men had essentially defected to the Austrian resistance all but officially by that point and he'd been coordinating for them for some time. The white flag was needed as a universal "don't fire on me" signal.
The one where the US Army, an SS officer, French (mostly political) POWs, and Wehrmacht soldiers defended a medieval castle against a division of SS Panzergrenadiers.
He and his men had essentially defected to the Austrian resistance all but officially by that point and he'd been coordinating for them for some time. The white flag was needed as a universal "don't fire on me" signal.