Otto Skorzeny became famous for the audacious release of the ousted leader of the Italian fascists, Mussolini. During the Second World War, this master of sabotage work took part in dozens of military actions. The Fuehrer of Germany highly valued Skorzeny and personally entrusted him with the execution of special operations.
From the biography of Otto Skorzeny
The future SS Standartenfuehrer was born on June 12, 1908 in Vienna. He came from a family of hereditary military men. Even in his student years, Skorzeny took part in duels more than once. On his account there were at least a dozen fights. In memory of these adventures, a scar remained on the duelist's cheek for life.
In 1931, Skorzeny joined the ranks of the German Nazi Party and became a member of the assault squads. In this field, he showed the qualities of a leader. Skorzeny took an active part in the annexation of Austria, preventing the assassination of the ousted Austrian President Miklas. It was during such special actions that Skorzeny honed the skills of a terrorist and received the education of a saboteur.
Skorzeny went to World War II with the 1st SS Panzer Division. He took part in battles on the territory of the Soviet Union. After being wounded in 1942, Skorzeny returned to Germany, becoming the owner of the Iron Cross. So Germany appreciated the merits of the conqueror, who showed courage under enemy fire.
Otto Skorzeny's covert operations
Having recovered from a serious injury, Skorzeny takes another step in his career: he becomes the head of a special unit that conducted reconnaissance and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. It was in this capacity that Skorzeny carried out an action to save Benito Mussolini, who was imprisoned. Skorzeny's candidacy for this daring operation was approved by Hitler himself after studying several candidates.
Later Skorzeny got involved in the preparation of a secret operation, during which it was planned to eliminate Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill during their meeting in Tehran in 1943. However, the action fell through: Soviet intelligence officers revealed the insidious plans of the German command and neutralized the Nazi agents in Iran.
In 1944, Otto Skorzeny received a new assignment. He had to eliminate the leaders of the Resistance in the Balkans. The main target of the group of saboteurs was the partisan leader Josip Broz Tito, who was hiding in Bosnia. In the course of the deployed operation, the SS assault detachment entered the battle with the partisans superior in strength. However, Skorzeny's thugs failed to capture Tito: the partisan leader managed to leave the shelter. This is one of the few operations on Skorzeny's track record that ended in failure.
On July 20, 1944, an attempt was made on Hitler's life. It was organized by the highest ranks of the Third Reich. Skorzeny was at that moment in the capital of Germany and took a direct part in suppressing the rebellion. For more than a day, he kept under control the headquarters of the reserve of the ground forces, the chief of which was among the conspirators.
Skorzeny after World War II
After the defeat of Nazi Germany, Skorzeny, famous for his sabotage, fled to Francoist Spain. He spent part of his life in Ireland, where he acquired a farm. In 1970, Skorzeny took part in the creation of an organization of neo-fascists, and also was an adviser to the President of Egypt. Information about the personal life of the saboteur is contradictory. The main saboteur of the Third Reich died on July 6, 1975 in Madrid.
