I have read that in fact the true leaders of this deed were General Student and Major Otto-Harald Mors and that Skorzeny requested to ride along in the plane and was allowed. Hitler and Goebbels wanted Skorzeny to be given the credit and Student and Mors both protested this.The myth of Skorzeny was perpetrated by himself in postwar writings and interviews.The SS paratroopers attached to the mission were along for the training according to the source. The film sequences seen often on TV documentaries were staged propaganda films similar to those done during the opening days of the Ardennes offensive.What are others thoughts on this?
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The planning and inteligence to locate the objective(Mussolini) was carried out by Gen. Student and his staff, infact the Fallschirmjager General was VERY upset that the role played by his men where downplayed by the propaganda machine to an almost "auxiliary support". Scorzeny was chossen for this mission not only because of his military training but mainly because Hitler at this point in time did't trust almost the entire armforces high command generals and officers, in other words, Scorzeny role was also like a political officer in this mission. I am not downplaying ANY of the soldiers/officers involved in this darring rescue mission(and Scorzeny was there during the rescue) but I strongly belive that the Luftwaffe paratroopers and their commaders should have received the same amount of respect and exaltation in this military operation as Otto Scorzeny men.
And yes, Scorzeny DID force himself in the small plane taking Mussolini to safety, putting as a lot of people have said, the mission in jeopardy since the plane was to heavy for takeoff. Infact I belive the only "in real time" moment photo of the mission is the one in which El Duce is sitting at the plane with a VERY grave face and Skorzeny has a big smile in his face. -
Mussolini Rescue
Skorzeny was, indeed, the leader of the mission. I met the SS man who carried the orders from SS headquarters directly to Skorzeny for the mission and was then placed under barracks arrest until the mission was completed and was not allowed to speak with anyone concerning his package delivery.
When he reported to SS headquarters a briefcase was handcuffed to his arm and was never off until Skorzeny took it off upon arrival.
My man was to attend a special school in Wien, Austria and was sent with the orders and detailed maps from Berlin. He was not out of his room in the barracks for four days while the mission was in progress. He was a member of the LAH and was kind enough to give me some original photos of Sepp.
Ron WeinandComment
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Hi Federico and Ron !
Federico, You brought it to the point.!
Skorzeny was in "political" mission, General Student and the paratroopers made EVERYTHING else. The paras were under only command of their own officers (Major Harald Mors, Oberleutnant v. Berlepsch). Everybody did exactly, what he had to do. It's another thing, that Skorzeny and Himmler could better "sell" themselves than General Student could.
Best regards,
PeterComment
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