Based on a true story, the 1963 film Miracle of the White Stallions is set in Vienna during WWII, where Colonel Alios Podhajsky (an actual historical figure) begged the German army to be allowed to evacuate the world-famous Lipizzan stallions for their own safety. Although initially denied permission by the Nazis, he chose to disobey orders at great personal risk and flee along with his staff during the night to get the horses to the countryside where they would be less threatened by bombing; it was likely only the horses' courage under fire that his efforts were successful, as the convoy was attacked but the horses remained cool and calm and were able to be rescued. Thus, the centuries-old Spanish Riding School took refuge at St. Martins and survived by living for a decade in exile. Dangers remained, however, as the staff had to protect both the horses and the school's property property from desperate refugees with nothing to lose and train the horses under extraordinary circumstances to put on a performance to impress Patton, the American general who was the only one who could truly guarantee the school's safety. In addition, Podhajsky needed to convince the Americans to rescue the breeding stock mares, who were being held in Czechslovakia after being moved from the stud in Piber, Austria. In the end, the mares and stallions are reunited and ten years after the war ended, the horses were back performing in the baroque riding hall in Vienna.

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