The Gran Sasso raid: The Liberation of Mussolini

[Andreas1984]

@ UMachine:
I'm not sure whether I understand your text. In my ears your text sounds like Skorzeny was the real rescuer of Mussolini. That's not true. This is the real version:

Skorzeny was not the real "hero" of plucking Mussolini out of mountain top villa. Major Mors had worked out the plan for Mussolini's liberation and he commanded his batallion but Skorzeny, this nasty little *******, jumped into the plane and told Himmler and Hitler that he is Mussolini's rescuer. Mors telephonded to Berlin after he had heard that Skorzeny got the Knight's cross. Mors' interlocutor at the other end of the line commanded him that the "Skorzeny-version" is the real one.

[Rogerbutthead]

What about the story that had Skorzeny was personally picked by Hitler to rescue Mussolini - Skorzeny having a previously planned operation fall through as the Italians moved Mussolini around before the Gran Sasso raid - the books that I have read seem to indicate that Skorzeny was leading throughout - until the final successful rescue.

What about the story of Skorzeny putting Mussolini, himself and a pilot in a tiny Feisler Storch - taking off in such a scary manner that a member of his party fainted? This seems confirmed by Hauptmann Heinrich Gerlach, who was General Student's highly skilful personal pilot - the pilot of that Storch. See a similar story - http://www.3squadron.org.au/sasso.htm

It sounds like from these stories - Major Mors was providing support - not leading - the operation.

[Peter H]

Major Mors was the Battalion commander of I/FJR7(a cover name for the Fallschirm-Lehr Battalion).The 1st company of I/FJR7(Oblt von Berlepsch) along with Skorenzy's Friedenthal force of 17 men formed the glider landed force.Mors commanded the rest of I/FJR7 trucked in to capture the nearby Aquila airfield and the cable car station at the base of the mountain.

There's a photo of Mors and Mussolini taken together after the rescue.However Mors had arrived after the action was over from his holding position at the base of Gran Sasso.

Some further details,photos here:

http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/bosshammer.htm

Overall it was a Luftwaffe planned and manned exercise but in the original plan Skorenzy's two glider full force of SS men(the remaining ten gliders contained FJs) were to storm the hotel building holding Mussolini while the FJ would support them as a covering force.

Greg Annussek's recently published Hitler's Raid to save Mussolini is also highly recommended.

[Andreas1984]

You should take a look at http://www.balsi.de ! I hope you understand German.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Better give the proper link :

http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Verlauf/I ... tseite.htm

Jan-Hendrik

[panzertruppe2001]

Otto Skorzeny in his book "Secrets Operations" says that in July 1943 was summoning to Hitler HQ in Rastenburg.
In this place he met a group of officers of the Waffes SS, Luftwaffe and Heer five or six men. Apparently all this men were specialist in "commando operations". Then Hitler appared and asked them "What is your opinion about Italy?" Almost all the men hesitated and tried to answer politely about Italy. "Italy is our ally" "She is a member of the Axis" "A member of the Tripartite Pact".
But Skorzeny answered "Mein Fuhrer, I am from Austria"
Hitler asked Skorzeny to remain and say good bye to the rest. All we know the end. Skorzeny was choosen for the mission and here is the question

Who were the other officers?

Panzertruppe2001

[Dieter Zinke]

Bundesarchiv Koblenz, Signatur: Bild 183-J07989
Scherl Bilderdienst, Schwahn
3. Oktober 1943

Die Befreier des Duce als Ehrengäste im Berliner Sportpalast
Die Grosskundgebung, die anlässlich des Erntedanktages 1943 im Berliner Sportpalast stattfand, wohnten auch die Männer bei, die unter Führung von Ritterkreuzträger SS-Sturmbannführer Skorzeny den Duce aus dem Berghotel am Gran Sasso aus den Händen seiner Feinde befreiten

Dieter Z.

[panzertruppe2001]

Bundesarchiv Koblenz, Signatur: Bild 183-J07989
Scherl Bilderdienst, Schwahn
3. Oktober 1943

Die Befreier des Duce als Ehrengäste im Berliner Sportpalast
Die Grosskundgebung, die anlässlich des Erntedanktages 1943 im Berliner Sportpalast stattfand, wohnten auch die Männer bei, die unter Führung von Ritterkreuzträger SS-Sturmbannführer Skorzeny den Duce aus dem Berghotel am Gran Sasso aus den Händen seiner Feinde befreiten

Dieter Z.

Dieter thanks for the answer, but could you translate the quote to English, my German is very poor but I deduce it is a meeting for honor Mussolini´s liberators.

Thanks Dieter

Panzertruppe2001

[Dieter Zinke]

The liberators of the Duce as guests of honour in the "Sportpalast" in Berlin, 03.10.1943
The mass rally on the occasion of the harvest festival took place on the Sport' s Palace in Berlin.
Under the leadership of the KC-holder SS-Stubaf. Otto Skorzeny also the men were present who delivered the Duce from his ennemies at the Gran Sasso mountain-hotel

Dieter Z.

[panzertruppe2001]

Thanks for the translation and the photo Dieter but my answer was about the other officers that WERE NOT selected by Hitler.
So, following Skorzeny´s "Secrets Operations", he and a group of officers apparently specialist in commando operations were summoned to Rastenburg. Skorzeny did not say who were and in my opinion he had not known them. Skorzeny was chosen for Hitler and the other men no. So this men did not form part of Skorzeny team.
Is it possible known who were this men that Hitler did not chose?

Regards

Panzertruppe2001

[Halfdan S.]

I remember having read that they were a mixed party from different parts of the Wehrmacht - so not only officers of the Waffen-SS - and also that Skorzeny knew none of the others.

Halfdan S.

[Halfdan S.]

Found a few more facts: there were five other officers beside Skorzeny and the five others all had a higher rank than he had.

Halfdan S.

[panzertruppe2001]

Halfdan S. that is very interesting. Skorzeny was I guess a Hauptsturmführer. Halfdan S., which book are you checking?

Panzertruppe2001

[Halfdan S.]

Hi Panzertruppe! Unfortunately my information is from an article in a danish book called "Spionageaffærer fra vor tid" (Spy (!) stories from our time) from 1962 - edited by Georg V. Bengtsson. It doesn't give any details as to it's sources, but judging from the illustrations, it relies on one or more articles in "Signal" - and I guess "Signal" wouldn't have given the names of any potential new "Skorzenys" . . . The article ranks Skorzeny as a captain, so, yes, a Hauptsturmführer.

Halfdan S.

[Helly Angel]

Skorzeny worte about them in "Lebe Gefährlich", they were: Leutnant Colonel from Wehrmacht, a Major from the Wehrmacht, two leutnat Colonel by Luftwaffe and a Sturmbannführer by SS. No names.

The SS Officer who introduce Otto with this special group was Gunsche while the Führer arrive.