War is full of unlikely stories, isn't it? But what happened at Castle Itter in May 1945 almost defies belief. Imagine this: American soldiers, disillusioned German troops, and French political prisoners standing shoulder to shoulder to fend off a Waffen-SS attack. It sounds like something out of a dramatic wartime novel, or a late-night history channel special, but it's not. This really happened, complete with all its strange twists and turns.Richard Clements explains. Major Josef Gangl. Castle Itter: A Fortress of ContrastsNestled above the Austrian village of Itter, Castle Itter has seen its share of transformations over the centuries. Originally a medieval fortress, it evolved into a 19th-century Alpine retreat, the kind of place you'd imagine travelers visiting for fresh air and sweeping mountain views. Picture it: quiet mornings with coffee on the terrace, surrounded by the majesty of the Tyrolean Alps. But history has a way of disrupting even the most tranquil settings.In 1938, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, the castle's fate changed dramatically. The Nazis took over and, by 1943, had turned this once-idyllic spot into a high-security prison for France's most influential captives. I've always found it jarring to imagine, a place that once welcomed guests with charm now holding figures like former French premiers Édouard Daladier and Paul Reynaud under lock and key. The contrast between its picturesque exterior and the grim reality inside is hard to shake. Desperation and Calls for HelpBy early May 1945, the Third Reich was in free fall. Hitler was dead, Allied forces were advancing on all fronts, and German command structures were collapsing. Castle Itter's SS guards, sensing the end, fled their posts. For the prisoners, their temporary freedom was bittersweet. They were unarmed, surrounded by hostile forests teeming with Waffen-SS troops, and unsure of their fate.Their first hope came in the form of Zvonimir Čučković, a Yugoslav handyman. Risking everything, Čučković slipped out of the castle with a plea for help. He eventually reached American troops near Innsbruck. Meanwhile, Andreas Krobot, the castle's Czech cook, pedaled to the nearby town of Wörgl, where he found Major Josef Gangl, a Wehrmacht officer who had turned against the Nazis. Gangl was already working with Austrian resistance fighters to protect local civilians from SS reprisals.Gangl's decision to side with the Allies wasn't simple. A decorated veteran of the Eastern Front, he had seen more than his share of the horrors inflicted by Nazi ideology. By May 1945, his disillusionment was complete. Protecting the prisoners at Castle Itter wasn't just a strategic choice; it was a deeply personal stand against a regime he no longer believed in. An Unlikely AllianceGangl sought out Captain Jack Lee, a tank commander in the U.S. 12th Armored Division. When I picture their first meeting, I imagine a tense moment. Gangl, a former enemy, approaching with a white flag, hoping the Americans wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later. To Lee's credit, he listened. Gangl explained the situation, and the two men devised a rescue mission. It wasn't a large force – just a handful of American soldiers, some of Gangl's defecting troops, and Lee's Sherman tank, nicknamed Besotten Jenny.By the time they reached the castle, night was falling, and tensions were high. Inside the castle, the prisoners had armed themselves with whatever they could find. Jean Borotra, the French tennis star, had taken charge of organizing them, though most were untrained in combat. Lee and Gangl knew they were outnumbered and outgunned, but retreat wasn't an option. The Battle BeginsThe Waffen-SS launched their attack at dawn on May 5, 1945. Machine gun fire rained down on the castle, and the SS deployed a formidable 88mm flak cannon. Besotten Jenny provided critical support until it was destroyed by enemy fire. The defenders, American GIs, Wehrmacht defectors, and French prisoners, fought side by side. Gangl, ever the protector, was killed by a sniper while trying to shield one of the French leaders from harm.Jean Borotra was an unexpected figure in this story. A celebrated tennis champion and former French official, he seemed far removed from the violence of war. Yet, by the time he stood with a rifle in Castle Itter, the choice was clear, fight or face certain death. His courage, like that of many others in this strange battle, was a testament to the resilience of those thrust into unimaginable circumstances.As the situation grew desperate, Borotra volunteered for a daring mission. Scaling the castle wall, he slipped past enemy lines to find reinforcements. It's hard not to marvel at his courage. Imagine sprinting through a war zone, unarmed, knowing that every step could be your last. But Borotra succeeded. He reached a nearby U.S. unit, and by mid-afternoon, reinforcements arrived. Tanks rolled up the hill, scattering the SS and securing the castle. Relief and RedemptionBy the time the battle ended, the defenders had achieved the impossible. Around 100 SS soldiers were captured, and the castle was safe. But the victory came at a cost. Major Gangl's death was a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who stood against tyranny, even at great personal risk.Gangl was posthumously honored as a hero of the Austrian resistance, with a street in Wörgl named after him. Captain Lee was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. The French prisoners, including Borotra, returned to France as symbols of resilience and survival. A Moment of Shared PurposeThe Battle of Castle Itter is more than a bizarre historical event – it's a stark reminder of how humanity can emerge in even the darkest moments of war. Think about it: American soldiers and disillusioned Germans, once fierce adversaries, joining forces to defend French prisoners. For a few hours, all the labels – enemy, ally, prisoner, faded, leaving behind something simpler and more profound: the will to survive together.When I reflect on this story, it's the humanity that stands out. War often draws hard lines between people, but this battle reminds us that those lines aren't as immovable as they seem. Sometimes, shared danger is enough to bring people together, even when everything else says they should be divided. The Castle TodayCastle Itter still stands, quiet and unassuming, on its hill above the village. Its weathered stones, scarred from the events of May 1945, seem almost reluctant to reveal the extraordinary story they witnessed. To me, that makes its story even more compelling. It's not just a relic of history; it's a reminder of what can happen when courage and circumstance push people to rise above the divisions of war.This is a tale worth telling, not just for its strangeness, but for the glimpse it offers into the complexities of human nature. The walls of Castle Itter hold more than memories; they hold a legacy of unity in the face of chaos. The site has been offering a wide variety of high-quality, free history content since 2012. If you’d like to say ‘thank you’ and help us with site running costs, please consider donating here.  References·       Bell, Bethany. "The Austrian Castle Where Nazis Lost to German-US Force." BBC News, 7 May 2015.·       Harding, Stephen. The Last Battle. Da Capo Press, 2013.·       Rampe, Will. "Why the Battle of Castle Itter Is the Strangest Battle in History." The Spectator, 28 April 2022.·       Wands, Christopher. "Strange History: The Battle of Castle Itter." The Historians Magazine, 2022.·       Various authors, "Battle of Castle Itter," Wikipedia, accessed 2023.

The rise and fall of the shōguns is one of the most captivating chapters in Japan’s history, filled with power struggles, political intrigue, and the valor of the samurai. From the establishment of the first shōgunate to the cultural legacy that still resonates today, the story of these military rulers has fascinated historians and audiences ...

This article showcases a collection of rare historical photos, many of which you have probably never seen before. These images offer a unique glimpse into moments from the past that aren’t often captured in traditional history books. Whether it’s a well-known event seen from an uncommon angle, an intimate snapshot of a famous figure, or an everyday scene from a time long gone, these photos provide fresh insights and a deeper understanding of history. Through these rarely-seen but unique images, this article will explore stories and moments in history that were previously overlooked or lost to time, giving us a new perspective on the world as it once was. Actress Anita Ekberg meets Paparazzi outside of her house with a bow and arrow after being relentlessly followed by them all night. 1960. Man poses for a photo in-front of Soyuz rocket, (1980s), Baikonur, Kazakh SSR A worm vending-machine. 1957 Showgirls play chess between shows at New York’s Latin Quarter Nightclub, 1958 A demonstrator hitting the Berlin Wall in 1989 The Smallest House in Great Britain, also known as the Quay House, is a tourist attraction on the quay in Conwy, Wales. A US Air Force lieutenant is held captive by a young North Vietnamese soldier, 1967 San Fernando Valley’s Satans Slaves Motorcycle Club before becoming Hells Angels. Circa 1970s Photographer Otto Ludwig Bettmann captures the Grand Prix Monza in1966 Henry Cabot Lodge, points the bugging device hidden in the Great Seal A public urinal located in Paris,1875 Tigers’ fans ‘celebrate’ the World Series victory. They defeated the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. Detroit,1984 Annie Edson Taylor poses with her cat and the barrel she rode over Niagara Falls in 1901. Animal medical therapy in 1956 A menorah stands on the windowsill of a Jewish home across from Nazi Party headquarters in Kiel, Germany in 1932. A Dutch athlete receives a portrait of Adolf Hitler as a sports prize A French women welcomes an American soldier two days after liberation. Strasbourg, France, 22 November 1944. 105mm shells from an allied bombardment all fired in a single day on German lines, 1916. A California National Guard soldier escorts a surfer out of Venice Beach, Los Angeles, after it is shut down to prevent rioting or any large gathering of rioters there during the 1992 Los Angeles riots May 2, 1992 A view of the U.S. Capitol Building dome under construction in 1857 Anti-Apartheid protesters sprayed with a water cannon shooting purple dye to mark the demonstrators for arrest. South Africa, 1989. A wheat field in the heart of Manhattan, 1982 An anti-communist revolutionary holds a Molotov cocktail behind his back during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. After astronomical calculations and a 3-year wait for the right moment, photographer Leonardo Sens took this photo Renaissance Circus Trio, a group of acrobats performing a gravity-defying stunt atop the Rockefeller Center in New York City in the early 1930s. Confederate and Union soldiers shaking hands at a Battle of Gettysburg reunion 1913 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is attacked by States Rights Party member Jimmy Robinson as King tries to register at the Hotel Albert in Selma, Alabama, on January 18, 1965 U.S. Marines holding scaled-up models of rifles at Camp Pendleton in October, 1956. A desert of fire Kuwait, 1991 Woman jumping over 6 of her classmates, 1952. The first “photo” of Mars (1965). This image was hand-colored by NASA scientists using the raw image data from spacecraft Mariner 4. Ota Benga (1904-1906) — A Mbuti Pygmy, born in Congo Free State in 1885. He was sold to an American explorer for display at the 1904 World’s Fair. He was then housed in the Bronx Zoo primate house. Florence Thompson, the Migrant Mother in Dorothea Lange’s famous 1936 photo, holds up her likeness during an interview after her identity was made known, October 10, 1978 A barge filled with Kherson watermelons on the Dnipro river, (1984), Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR Walt Disney, 1906, with his sister Ruth. Protestors in May 1978 after a young Bangladeshi textile worker called Altab Ali was murdered in east London. It was a racially motivated killing. November 1966, stagnant air trapped toxic smog over New York City for three days, killing 168 people. Bryn Owen aged 17 with his Vespa scooter, which has 34 mirrors and 81 lights on the front and back, all bought with his pocket money, Leicestershire, England. 1983. Dr. Joe Medicine Crow, last war chief of the Crow Nation. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He led a raid against a German position, disarming them and taking them prisoner. He then stole their horses. He died in 2016, aged 102. Violet and Daisy Hilton, conjoined twins born in Brighton, 1908.The post Rare Historical Photos You’ve Never Seen Before first appeared on History Defined.

Sports are surprisingly emotional. Athletes push themselves to the limit, fans stand by their teams through every high and low, and reporters and commentators create heroes and villains. But controversy always lurks. Sometimes, it’s a shady deal behind the scenes. Other times, it’s a moment of passion spilling out on the field. Below are 15 of the most talked-about controversies in sports history. Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” (1986) Soccer’s 1986 World Cup delivered one of its most memorable—and controversial—moments. Argentina faced England in a quarter-final match loaded with political undertones. Diego Maradona stepped up as Argentina’s star. Early in the second half, he leaped for a bouncing ball in the penalty area. Peter Shilton, England’s goalkeeper, came out to punch it. Maradona’s hand swiped at the ball. It ended up in the net. The referee allowed the goal, missing the handball. Maradona later claimed it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” That one moment lit up debates for decades. Some viewers called it flagrant cheating, while others praised Maradona’s cunning and insisted the referee should have caught it. Maradona scored again a few minutes later, weaving through half of England’s team in what many still call the “Goal of the Century.” That second strike mattered, but the “Hand of God” overshadowed everything. Arguments about video technology and fair play began right after. The controversy eventually nudged international soccer toward better officiating systems, culminating in tools like VAR. The 1919 Black Sox Scandal Baseball has endured plenty of scandals, but the 1919 Black Sox Scandal still stands out. The Chicago White Sox were heavily favored to beat the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. Rumors flew that gamblers had made deals with certain White Sox players. The team’s performance in the Series looked suspiciously poor. A few players dropped balls or made unforced errors and whispers started about a fix. The official investigation named eight players, including legendary outfielder “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. He and the others were banned from pro baseball for life. The scandal shocked the nation, stained the sport, and led to the appointment of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis who had absolute authority to clean up the game. Malice at the Palace (2004) The NBA has seen its share of ejections and fines, but few fights escalated like the infamous “Malice at the Palace.” The Detroit Pistons hosted the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Tensions were high on the court. A scuffle broke out near the end of the game. Then a spectator threw a drink at Ron Artest (later Metta World Peace). Enraged, Artest stormed into the stands. Other Pacers followed. Pistons fans rushed into the fray, and chaos swept the arena. Television viewers couldn’t believe it. Many had never seen pro athletes brawl with spectators. The NBA handed down severe suspensions and Artest missed the remainder of that season. Teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal also faced bans and the league tightened security guidelines and restricted alcohol sales. Lance Armstrong’s Doping Confession Cycling fans once worshipped Lance Armstrong. After surviving testicular cancer, he dominated the Tour de France. He won it seven times in a row, from 1999 to 2005. His nonprofit foundation, Livestrong, raised millions for cancer research. For years, doping accusations trailed him. He swore he was clean. He sued people who questioned him. Yet rumors never went away. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency eventually published evidence of a huge doping scheme. Armstrong’s former teammates testified. He finally confessed in 2013 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The fallout was massive. He lost his seven Tour de France titles and received a lifetime ban from cycling. Sponsors like Nike ran for the exit, and fans felt betrayed. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan (1994) Figure skating is known for elegance, but the Harding-Kerrigan saga was anything but. In January 1994, Nancy Kerrigan got clubbed on her knee after a practice session. The attack forced her out of the national championships. Investigators traced the assault back to Jeff Gillooly—Tonya Harding’s ex-husband—and two accomplices. Their plan aimed to give Harding a better shot at winning. The story shocked the public. Media outlets camped outside Harding’s home. Kerrigan recovered to skate in the 1994 Winter Olympics and won silver. Harding also competed but stumbled under the weight of scrutiny. Legal battles followed, and Harding got a lifetime ban from U.S. figure skating. Gillooly served time. Kerrigan tried to move forward. Tabloids wouldn’t stop milking the drama. Even decades later, many remember that one strike to the knee. It exposed a dark side of figure skating—a sport that usually showcased glittery costumes and polite smiles. Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield’s Ear (1997) Mike Tyson’s power in the ring was legendary. He’d become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. However, his rematch with Evander Holyfield in 1997 became infamous for different reasons. Tyson had lost to Holyfield once. In the second fight, he grew frustrated by what he claimed were headbutts. Then, in the third round, Tyson stunned everyone by biting Holyfield’s ear—not once, but twice. The second chomp took a piece off. Officials stopped the fight. Tyson was disqualified. Fans were horrified. Some demanded a lifetime ban, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed him a lengthy suspension and a $3 million fine. Holyfield needed medical attention for his ear. The 2002 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Judging Scandal Figure skating found itself under a harsh spotlight at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The pairs competition featured two standout performances: the Russian duo Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze and the Canadian team Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. Many felt the Canadians had delivered a cleaner routine, yet the Russians ended up with gold medals. The crowd booed, and speculation about bias ran rampant. Officials probed the results, which led to a French judge admitting she’d been pressured to favor the Russians. The organizers corrected the situation and in an unprecedented move, awarded a second set of gold medals to the Canadians. Zinedine Zidane’s Headbutt (2006) The 2006 World Cup Final between France and Italy had everything. A global viewership, legendary players, high stakes, and Zinedine Zidane led France. He was a national hero. Then, late in the match, he shocked everyone by headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest. TV cameras captured everything. The referee showed Zidane a red card. With their best player gone, France lost on penalties. Later reports suggested Materazzi had insulted Zidane’s mother or sister. The specifics never got entirely clear. Some fans blamed the Italian defender for provoking him. Others felt Zidane’s reaction was way out of line. Deflategate (2014–15) Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have owned a big chunk of the NFL’s modern era. They won multiple Super Bowls with precision offense and a tight defense. In the 2014 AFC Championship Game, they faced the Indianapolis Colts. After the Patriots’ victory, there were accusationsthat the team used under-inflated footballs, giving Brady an edge in gripping and throwing. The NFL launched an investigation. The “Wells Report” found evidence suggesting Patriots staff tampered with the footballs. Brady received a four-game suspension and T Patriots got fined $1 million and lost draft picks. Opinions were split. Some fans and analysts argued this was a huge violation of fair play. Others said it was blown out of proportion. Legal battles and appeals followed. Brady eventually served the suspension. and his team went on to more championships. The 2007 Spygate Scandal Deflategate wasn’t the first time the New England Patriots faced scrutiny. In 2007, they got caught filming the New York Jets’ defensive signals. NFL rules say teams can’t record other teams’ sidelines to gain an unfair advantage. The Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the larger organization was hit with a $250,000 fine. They also lost a first-round draft pick. Fans of rival teams held this up as proof the Patriots bent or broke rules. Belichick insisted he misread the regulations. The league dismissed that defense and took action. Yet the team continued on a successful run. Many still call them one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Others see them as the biggest rule-breakers. Spygate fueled ongoing debates about gamesmanship versus outright cheating and reminded fans that winning can come at a reputational cost. The 1972 Munich Olympics Men’s Basketball Final International tensions often creep into sports. The 1972 Summer Olympics men’s basketball final between the USA and the Soviet Union turned into a political and sporting controversy. Team USA had never lost a game in Olympic basketball prior to that night. At the end of the match, the Americans led 50–49. Time expired. Many believed they’d sealed another gold. Then officials ordered the clock reset. That happened multiple times. The Soviets finally scored a winning basket with one second left and confusion reigned. The U.S. team protested, citing mismanagement of the clock. The protest failed. The Soviet Union kept the gold medals. Team USA refused to accept the silver. Those medals remain unclaimed in a vault somewhere. Some insist the officiating was just incompetent, while others suspect something fishy. That final remains a bitter memory for American basketball fans and stands as one of the most disputed finishes in Olympic history. Bountygate in the NFL Player safety has become a hot topic in pro football. Bountygate, uncovered in 2012, fueled that conversation. The New Orleans Saints got exposed for running a bounty system. Defensive players received cash bonuses for big hits that caused opposing players to leave games injured. The NFL launched an investigation and found enough evidence to impose harsh punishments and Saints head coach Sean Payton got suspended for the entire 2012 season. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams received an indefinite suspension (later reinstated). Other team executives faced discipline. Fans and analysts debated whether the practice was common around the league. Some argued the Saints were just unlucky enough to get caught. Others said it was an evil practice that needed to be stamped out. The scandal arrived at a time when retired players were suing the NFL over concussion-related injuries. Public opinion demanded the league take a strong stand. Bountygate ended with a clear message: paying players to injure opponents crossed a big line. The O.J. Simpson Trial (1994–95) O.J. Simpson was more than an athlete. He was a star running back in the NFL, an actor, a broadcaster, and a household name. In 1994, police charged him with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The resulting trial gripped the entire country. Live broadcasts showed the infamous white Bronco chase, the courtroom drama, and eventually the “not guilty” verdict. That verdict divided America. Race, celebrity, and media coverage all played massive roles. The case overshadowed Simpson’s athletic accomplishments. He became better known for the trial than for his Heisman Trophy or his rushing records. Though he walked free in the criminal trial, a civil court later found him liable for wrongful death. Fans who once cheered him saw a different side. Though not a “sports scandal” in the usual sense, it remains one of the biggest controversies involving a former athlete. Ben Johnson’s Doping at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Track and field can be breathtaking. Sprint races showcase the purest form of speed. In 1988, Canada’s Ben Johnson broke the 100-meter world record with a time of 9.79 seconds. He crossed the line ahead of American rival Carl Lewis at the Seoul Olympics. Two days later, Johnson tested positive for the steroid stanozolol and Olympics officials stripped him of his gold. Johnson tried to return but tested positive again in 1993, leading to a lifetime ban. Russia’s State-Sponsored Doping Program Russia’s doping scandals have shaken international sports after investigators discovered a system where Russian officials, coaches, and labs covered up positive drug tests. The scheme played out around major events, including the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Whistleblowers described hidden holes in walls for sample-swapping and government agents who smuggled in clean samples. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released reports detailing the extent of cheating. International bodies handed down suspensions. Russian athletes faced bans from several competitions. Some got to compete under a neutral flag, provided they passed rigorous testing.The post 15 of the most controversial moments in sports history first appeared on History Defined.

The Harlem Renaissance author spent her last years writing about the ancient king. Six decades after her death, her unfinished novel has finally been published for the first time