The last European WW2 battle ended only on 12th May 1945

[Beer]

11-12th May 1945 near Příbram, Czechoslovakia. 

 

I guess it's little known event but in fact it was a real battle in terms of scale. While the German capitulation was signed already on 8th May the war continued in Czechoslovakia for coupple more days. Fighting in Prague ceased finally on 9th May but the German units didn't want to surrender to the Red Army and intended to fight their way to the Americans. Quite a strong group of them found themseves south-east of Příbram. Roughly 6-7 thousand soldiers from various SS and Wehrmacht units, mainly remains of SS Kampfgruppe Wallenstein, commanded by the SS chief commander in Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren Carl von Pückler-Burghauss tried to negotiate with the US Army but without success. Meanwhile his men started to fortify themselves hoping to find an agreement with the Americans. The German units were frustrated and murdered several civilians around the area. Due to that several partisan and so called Revolution guard units engaged in the figting with them but those were too weak (not more than few hundred men). In one occassion SS used waving a white flag to lure the partisan out of a cover and kill them. On May 11 Red Army engaged in the fighting and so did some elements of the US army serving as the imaginary wall behind the back. On 12th May early morning von Pückler-Burghauss finally handed his capitulation to the hands of Soviet general Seryogin from 104th Guard Rifle Division and American colonel Allison from 4th Tank Division. Some six thousands of German troops were takken prisoners by the Soviets while hundreds of soldiers and around two dozens of partisans died on the battlefield (the last one - armed local was killed two hours after the capitulation was signed). SS-Gruppenführer Pückler-Burghauss shot himself in the head shortly after he signed the capitulation. 

 

There is a monument built on the place as You can see here.

https://mapy.cz/s/dejatoheza

 

Usually they hold a small memorial event on the battlefield but this year it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemy. Nevertheless here is some footage from 2018.