Stephen Harding. The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe. Boston: Da Capo Press, 2013. 223 pp. Illustrations. $25.99 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-306-82208-7.

Reviewed by Kevin Hall (Central Michigan University)
Published on H-USA (January, 2015)
Commissioned by Donna Sinclair (Central Michigan University)

Stephen Harding’s The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe definitely has the makings of a screenplay. It captures the adventure, action, and drama of a Hollywood film, describing American, Austrian, and German soldiers fighting side by side to protect VIP prisoners in the Austrian Alps at the end of the Second World War. It is a true story about a mission that, at times, touches the limits of plausibility.

The aim of The Last Battle is to simply express the story of the mission to a general audience as opposed to an academia-targeted work that describes the relationship between pro-resistance Austrian soldiers and ardent German Nazis. Using research from archives, interviews, personal memoirs, and a plethora of secondary works, Harding describes in great detail not only the mission that unfolded in battle on May 5, 1945, but also the history surrounding Schloss Itter (Itter Castle), leading up to the battle. At times, however, the immense detail can be excessive, inhibiting the flow of the story; yet there are other instances where the author leaves the reader wanting to know more--for example, more information surrounding certain key figures at the castle.

Harding begins with the history of Schloss Itter, describing how it was a fortress since the tenth century, developing over time into a private residence, then a hotel, and eventually into a prison for VIPs controlled by the SS. The handful of VIPs included former French politicians, dignitaries, and military leaders; however, despite being imprisoned, these VIPs lived in luxury compared to concentration inmates or prisoners of war.

Despite a plethora of background information, which can be helpful for nonspecialist readers, the actually story of the mission does not occur until roughly the final third of the book. As Harding describes, after a handful of Austrian and German soldiers surrendered to American soldiers, they handed over a letter describing the dire situation of the VIP prisoners. Upon reading this, the American solider Captain John Carey Lee Jr. immediately and unreservedly decided that they all would go on a rescue mission. The accuracy of this, however, is questionable; nevertheless, it adds to the appeal and drama of the story.

Although it lends support to his his story, Harding tends to overstate the strength and number of resistance fighters in Austria and cites no evidence to back uo his claims. Nevertheless, Harding does a great job telling the fascinating story of the improbable camaraderie in The Last Battle. Despite the occasional unlikely aspects of the story, as well as the sluggish start to the book, The Last Battle is an excellent and quick read.

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Citation: Kevin Hall. Review of Harding, Stephen, The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe. H-USA, H-Net Reviews. January, 2015.
URL: http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=42422

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