In 1945 "national redoubt" was the English term used to describe the possibility that German dictator
Adolf Hitler and armed forces of
Nazi Germany (
Wehrmacht) would make a last stand in the alpine areas of
Austria,
Bavaria and northern
Italy in the closing months of
World War II in
Europe. In
German this concept was called the
Alpenfestung (Alpine Fortress). Although there was some German military planning for a stand in the Alpine region, it was never fully endorsed by Hitler and no serious attempt was made to put the plan into operation.
These reports found their way into the popular press in the last months of the war.
Time wrote in February 1945:
But what of the top Nazis who cannot hide? With a compact army of young SS and Hitler Youth fanatics, they will retreat, behind a loyal rearguard cover of Volksgrenadiere and Volksstürmer, to the Alpine massif which reaches from southern Bavaria across western Austria to northern Italy. There immense stores of food and munitions are being laid down in prepared fortifications. If the retreat is a success, such an army might hold out for years
