See more ideas about wwii, world war and the third reich. A former special operations officer of the ss, otto skorzeny was involved in many adventures including the liberation of mussonlini, described as the bond villain that never was. Otto skorzeny stuart smith bok 9781472829450 bokus. Hitlers favourite commando acquired a reputation as a man of daring, renowned for his audacious 1943 mission to extricate mussolini from a mountaintop prison. The british called him the most dangerous man in europe the man with the fearsome scar earned as an accomplished master of fencing. Otto skorzeny issued a proposal that would see specialized nazi units wear the opposing armys uniforms, adopting the enemys language and customs. Otto skorzeny was a noted german commando leader during world war ii. The strange case of a nazi who became an israeli hitman haaretz. Years after the war, skorzeny became an agent for the israeli mossad and assassinated an exnazi rocket scientist. The memoirs of hitlers most daring commando schiffer military history by otto skorzeny jan 1, 1995. Yossi melman, like clouds and wind, jerusalem report, october 2, 2017. According to the author ralph ganis, there was a link between otto skorzeny and guy weber in katanga.
After the war, otto skorzeny worked with odessa and as a security consultant. Otto skorzeny, born 1908, viennadied july 5, 1975, madrid, nazi ss officer, who gained fame in 1943 for his daring rescue of benito mussolini from confinement at campo imperatore in the abruzzi mountains where he had been imprisoned by marshal pietro badoglio skorzeny joined the nazi party in 1933 and became a colonel in the waffen ss during world war ii. Full text of otto skorzeny my commando operations see other formats. The memoirs of hitlers most daring commando, and skorzenys special missions. After fighting on the eastern front, he was chosen as the field commander to carry out the rescue mission that freed the. A notorious former ss officer known as hitlers commando reportedly worked as an assassin for israeli intelligence. Otto skorzeny only rose to the rank of colonel in the ss, yet is one of the best known and colorful figures of the third reich, in large part because of the faith hitler had in the tall austrian engineer. Soho crime author stuart neville included the nazi war criminal, ss lieutenant colonel otto skorzeny, as a character in his novel ratlines. Otto skorzeny 12 june 1908 5 july 1975 was an austrianborn ssobersturmbannfuhrer lieutenant colonel in the waffenss during world war ii. Ss obersturmbannfuhrer otto skorzeny became a legend in his own time. The daring missions of otto skorzeny and the nazi special forces.
His first wifes name was margareta gretl schreiber, who got married twice again after she divorced otto skorzeny and as at the last report is still very much alive at ripe of age 97 and still resides in vienna, austria. Otto skorzeny 12 june 1908 5 july 1975 was an austrian ssstandartenfuhrer colonel in the german waffenss during world war ii. The strange case of a nazi who became an israeli hitman. The remarkable story of ss lieutenant colonel otto skorzeny, one of hitlers favorites, best known for rescuing mussolini from an impenetrable mountain prison, the book tells of other more significant military and political exploits. Otto skorzeny conducted the rescue of benito mussolini in 1943 and later played a key role in the battle of the bulge.
The memoirs of the most dangerous man in europe, and more on. After fighting on the eastern front, he became known to the world in september 1943, when boastful german radio broadcasts hailed the previously unknown skorzeny as the most dangerous man in europe for his key role in the successful and daring airborne. Otto skorzeny author of skorzenys special missions goodreads. His early experiences were shaped by an economic depression and the collapse of the austrohungarian empire, which caused disruption to millions of lives. My commando operations is the memoirs of otto skorzeny, the legendary officer of the waffen ss. During the war, he was involved in several operations, including the removal from power of hungarian regent miklos horthy and the rescue mission that freed benito mussolini from captivity. Hitlers favorite commando acquired a reputation as a man of daring, renowned for his audacious 1943 mission to extricate mussolini from a mountaintop prison. Prior to reading the book i did not know of otto skorzeny. Otto skorzeny, my commando operations, waffen ss, liberation of mussolini, france, campaign, balkans. And yet not only is otto skorzeny himself only a tangential part of a book entitled the skorzeny papers, but the evidence for the plot to kill jfk is awkwardly squeezed into the last two pages of a 346page work, with a final revelation that made me both angry for investing hours of my life reading the tome, and confused as to how an. Otto skorzeny 12 june 1908 5 july 1975 was an austrianborn ss obersturmbannfuhrer lieutenant colonel in the waffenss during world war ii. Otto skorzeny, one of the mossads most valuable assets, was a former lieutenant colonel in nazi germanys waffenss and one of adolf hitlers favorites. How a famous former nazi officer became a hitman for israel. This book is a repackaging of german ss officer otto skorzenys original post war memoirs, written in 1957.
Ltcol otto skorzeny, once described by british and american. The book isnt your typical dry account of certain historical events, and i would. Skorzeny, adolf hitlers favoured paratrooper, a member of the waffen ss, took part in. Ss colonel otto skorzeny and his paladin group are legends of the 20th century. Ssobersturmbannfuhrer otto skorzeny became a legend in his own time. Otto skorzeny my commando operations the memoirs of hitlers most dangerous commando. This book he tells the full story of the combat operations that made him a legend. Skorzenys talents were brought into play again in 1944 when he was sent to budapest. Throughout my reading on world war ii i have yet to encounter the name of ssobersturmbannfuhrer otto skorzeny, either that or he was mentioned in a passing paragraph. About 18 months ago the distinguished american historian and scientist, noam chomsky, directed my attention through emails to otto skorzenys my commando operations, a book on which the below article is largely based upon and, a little later, chomsky specifically pointed this author towards the material featured in chapter 12 of skorzenys. Skorzeny is most wellknown for his daring rescue of benito mussolini in 1943. Otto skorzeny was one of the most outstanding military men of the 20th century.
Otto skorzeny books list of books by author otto skorzeny. He was a darling of the nazi high command, conceived of the odessa network which helped nazis ss men escape justice after the war, yet later became a mossad operative. This earned him the honor of being one of hitlers favorite and most trusted officers. The devils disciple by stuart smith is a biography of hitlers favorite commando, a man who became a legend in his lifetime, but almost forgotten these days. Otto skorzeny 12 june 1908 5 july 1975 was an austrian ss standartenfuhrer colonel in the german waffen ss during world war ii. Skorzenys influence on special operations doctrine was farreaching and longlasting in 2011, when us navy seals infiltrated pakistan to eliminate osama bin.
Otto skorzeny 12 june 1908 5 july 1975 was an austrian ss standartenfuhrer colonel in the german waffenss during world war ii. German colonel otto skorzeny interrogated by a us army captain in germany. The novel vividly portrays skorzenys legendary malice, his imposing physical stature, and, above all, the seemingly impenetrable force of his psyche. Moreover, the most astounding revelation is the mossad agent who fired the fatal gunshots. About 18 months ago the distinguished american historian and scientist, noam chomsky, directed my attention through emails to otto skorzenys my commando operations, a book on which the below article is largely based upon and, a little later, chomsky specifically pointed this author towards the material featured in chapter 12 of skorzenys book, why hitler. Colonel in hitlers ss who was once called the most dangerous man in europe by allied intelligence. My commando operations is the memoirs of otto skorzeny, the legendary officer of the waffenss. See all books authored by otto skorzeny, including my commando operations. The paladin group was created in 1970 in the albufereta neighborhood of alicante, spain, by otto skorzeny and former us colonel james sanders the paladin group operated out of zurich, switzerland, recruiting many former ss members, as well as from the rank and file of various rightwing and nationalist organizations, including the french nationalist oas, the sac, and from the french. Ss lieutenant colonel otto skorzeny agreed to work for the mossad in egypt and was responsible for the assassination of heinz krug, a german scientist who was helping the egyptians. Otto skorzeny, one of the israeli spy agencys most valuable assets, was a former lieutenant colonel in nazi germanys waffen ss and one of adolf hitlers personal favorites among the partys commando leaders. In addition to his native german, he spoke excellent french. This piece of literature is provided under conditions of fair use, which means it is for comment and information purposes only. When mussolini was imprisoned in italy in 1943, it was skorzeny who successfully led the daring glider rescue.
Whenever the nazi dictator had a special mission, skorzeny usually got the brief. It was skorzeny who in 1943 led a daring raid to rescue the imprisoned benito mussolini from a hotel perched atop a mountain. Up front, this memoir is not only disingenuous, but. Colonel otto skorzeny married three wives throughout his lifetime. The story concerns ss colonel otto skorzeny, often dubbed hitlers favorite commando. Heres a strange story that many people found and shared, and it may be a symbol of even deeper patterns.
Skorzeny, otto, born 12061908 in vienna, austria, into a middleclass austrian family which had a long history of military service. Otto skorzeny, germanys top commando in world war ii, is the most famous man in the history of special forces. The skorzeny papers evidence for the plot to kill jfk ralph p. His specialty was daring, guerrillastyle, commando raids. Otto skorzeny goodreads meet your next favorite book.
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