skorzeny

[harry palmer]

Which Waffen SS division did Standartenfuhrer Otto Skorzeny serve with for the first part of his career? Most sources claim that it was the LAH , but one claims that it was the Totenkopf (?)
Ironically, it seems that his career is better documented from the Gran Sasso operation onwards than prior to it- does anyone have any details on that?.

[Starinov]

I am not sure if it was Das Reich or LAH but certainly no Totenkopf. I would rather go for the Das Reich.

[MaPen]

Skorzeny was member of Leibstandarte and Das Reich.

Here's more info: http://www.worldwar.nl/persons/Skorzeny ... orzeny.htm

best

[Richard Murphy]

From "Skorzeny's Special Missions" Greenhill Books p25-6;

"It was the Autumn of 1942, and our Waffen SS divisions were about to be converted into armoured divisions. This seemed to me an opportunity to get away from Berlin. I "forgot" my classification as "fit for garrison service at home" and applied for transfer to armour. After certain courses and examinations I achieved my object and was transferred as regimental engineer to the armoured regiment of the 3rd SS Armoured Division."

....

"I was not long with the 3rd Armoured Division. One day in April 1943, I was summoned to Waffen SS headquaters, where I was informed that an officer with technical training was required in connection with the establishment of a special formation"

Regards from the Park,

Rich

[Starinov]

So he served in those three divisions...
I didn't know that. I always thought he served only in Das Reich before being transfered to the SS-FHA...

Well, I'll go to bed tonight with one more usefiull info....

[Phil V]

Late in the war Hitler entrusted Skorzeny to train a spcial commando force to pass for American GI's in an effort to create chaos behind enemy lines. This special mission was known as Operation Greif. It had some limited success

[pdhinkle36ID]

You can fool a GI once...