33. A Star Takes the Opportunity to Shine Once Again
The American rescue force headed to Castle Itter had incomplete information about the situation there, because communications were prematurely severed. So French tennis star Jean Borotra offered to jump off the castle’s wall, then sprint through the SS besiegers to reach the approaching American rescuers. Against the odds, he crossed about forty yards of open ground swept by bullets. He reached the rescuers, and guided them back to the castle, which they reached just in the nick of the time, before the defenders had fired their last bullet. The SS besiegers were routed, with many killed, and about 100 captured.
The prisoners were rescued, and the French VIPs were sent back to France. Captain John Lee was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross. Unfortunately for German Army Major Sepp Gangl, he was killed by an SS sniper while defending former French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud. He was the only defender killed during the battle. After the war, Gangl was celebrated as an Austrian hero. A street in nearby Worgl was named after him.