World War II Database

The six-foot-four Vienna-born Austrian Otto Skorzeny had always been a dare devil of sorts. He was involved in 15 duels, one of which left a menacing scar on his cheek which later became a symbol of his distinct personality. In 1931, he joined the Austrian branch of the Nazi Party, and took leadership roles in influencing Austrians to become annexed by Germany. When German troops marched into Vienna, he enjoyed a brief hero status when he saved Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas from Nazi extremists. At Austria he also served as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard.

When WW2 began Skorzeny joined the Waffen-SS after he was turned down at the Luftwaffe because of his age. He fought in the campaigns in the Low Countries and in France as an artillery officer, then was sent to Yugoslavia during the Balkans campaign as a lieutenant. With the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, one of only two units to bear the name of the German leader, he fought on the Russian front and won the Iron Cross in Dec 1942.

In Jul 1943, Skorzeny's daring personality led to his appointment as one of the commandos sent to rescue Benito Mussolini from captivity. The mission was carried out most successfully in Sep 1943, extricating the Italian dictator from the Campo Imperatore Hotel at Gran Sasso without firing a single shot. The rescue mission was headed up by General Kurt Student and the operational leader at the rescue site was Lieutenant Otto von Berpelsh, however, the cunning Skorzeny actively courted the Italian leader and placed himself in the center of attention after the return to Germany. As a result, he came under the spotlight as a hero once again, receiving the honor of the Knight's Cross and became the centerpiece of a propaganda campaign.

In May 1944 Berlin attempted a similar mission to Yugoslavia, this time to capture the partisan leader Josip Tito. Skorzeny failed this attempt with Tito escaping in the nick of time.

During the 20 Jul 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler's life, Skorzeny played a small part in maintaining Nazi control of Berlin.

In Oct 1944, Skorzeny participated in another commando mission. He led a team of operatives into Hungary and kidnapped the son of Hungarian leader Miklós Horthy, Nicolas, to coerce the Hugarian leader to step down from power. Hitler installed a pro-Nazi puppet regime in Hungary after Horthy abdicated his powers.

When Hitler gambled with his major offensive across the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Skorzeny was selected to head up Operation Grief, an operation that focused on disrupting Allied intelligence and transportation. As the head of the operation, he dropped paratroopers to force Allies to fortify large areas behind the front lines, spread rumors to mislead Allies on the true intentions of the German attack, and sent commandos in captured Allied uniforms and equipment to surprise the defenders. The individual schemes achieved various degrees of success, but overall the deceptive operation contributed greatly to the initial confusion among Allied ranks. With Skorzeny's reputation as a daring commando, even Dwight Eisenhower was advised by his security detail to travel with an excessive guard force in fear that Skorzeny would send a team to kidnap or assassinate him.

After the failed Ardennes offensive, the German military might dwindled, and Skorzeny was assigned to command regular troops in East Prussia because the lack of officers. He was given the rank of major general. For his efforts in the defense against Russian troops he was awarded Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross.

Skorzeny surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war and was tried for his deceptions during the Battle of the Bulge. It was argued that, by having his troops wearing Allied uniforms, he was violating the laws of war. He was acquitted based on two major arguments. The weaker argument, but equally effective on his defense, was that the British special agents were known to have worn German uniforms on their missions as well, and the trial's prosecution did not wish to venture into the possibility of trying British personnel. The main reason for the acquittal of Skorzeny and other accused Germans was the vague nature of the law of war itself. International Law, Vol. II, paragraph 163 noted that it was illegal to engage in combat while display enemy flag or uniforms with the intension to confuse the enemy. However, the rules for wearing enemy uniforms were not clear when in non-combat situations, and Skorzeny's defense leveraged the fact that when actual combat took place, Skorzeny's men either took off the American uniforms or were visibly wearing German paratrooper overalls over the American uniforms. Treatise on International Law even stated that it was "perfectly legitimate to use the distinctive emblem of an enemy in order to escape from him or draw his forces into action", which helped the defense as well.

After the acquittal, Skorzeny remained in prison. He escaped from prison on 27 Jul 1948 and made his way to Spain where Francisco Franco granted him a safe haven. He was granted amnesty by the German government in 1952, declaring admittance to the mistakes of his past and denunciated the Nazi ideals. He became a military and engineering consultant to several governments around the world, including secretly being the liaison between President Juan Perón of Argentina and the German manufacturing giant Fried. Krupp. Skorzeny passed away in Madrid, Spain a very wealthy man.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
   4 Jan 2009 01:42:17 PM
   
   I'm a former English teacher and developing writer, especially keen on biographies. I'd love to know about Mr. C. Peter Chen's biography and contact information.
   
   Cathy
   
2. Ged Flannery says:
   13 Jan 2009 05:52:26 AM
   
   Although I am not a Nazi,one "must" give credit
   where it is due.This man's skill bravery and
   daring are legend,instead of not singing his
   praises I think that School-Children should be
   taught all about this great man.I do know this
   had this man fought for England or America Streets and Towns would be named after him"".
   Also he was purely a fighting Soldier of the
   highest quality,who would baulk at the sort
   of murder which the German's have long been
   accused of.Given the threat to the West and
   the ever present threat posed by Islamic Fundamentalist lunatics men like this should
   be pushed to the front,just like the modern
   Terrorist worships Saladin or others like the
   recently deceased Arafat.I think it's high time we celebrated the do-ers of great daring
   and showed the World that we in the West have
   plenty of Heroes indeed men just like Otto Skorzeny.
3. Timespanr says:
   14 Jun 2009 10:58:27 AM
   
   The world is full of Despot, Lunatic and Terrorist leaders. Believe me, the US just got rid of one. In a world that, it seems everyone at the top is predisposed at stealing from the poor and the middle class for themselves, there ends or to give to there supporters. It is refreshing for me to read the afore mention comment (#2) and see, that some one of us, can still idenify,
   Duty, Honor & Country, to his or her country, in this case to Germany. Col Skorzeny was honest in his actions, honest at his War crimes trial, and when they tried (& they tried very hard) to convict, they, the United States failed. And sit they would not release him turning him over to the German Government an innocent Soldier. There is something about the American culture that brings about preverse thinking, I can do anything I want, by you should have done what I expected of you. I say this as an Old Soldier, one who is experienced in War,and one who has had to suggest to other Americans, you need to stop doing what I precieve you to ber doing.
   Col. Otto Skorzeny, The Commando Extrodinary, may have passed, but, in the minds of a "Few Good Men" he is more than a memory!
   Much could, should, and would be learned from the study of this man in the Arts Special Forces Opns, inter-actions with local peoples and how to be an honest Soldier and yet do your job well.
4. spetsnaz says:
   22 Jul 2009 01:31:47 PM
   
   I heard that he helped train a class of Mossad on Special Ops Tactics.

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