Military History Podcast

"The Most Dangerous Man in Europe" was how Eisenhower described Otto Skorzeny, Nazi Germany's most famous commando and special operations leader.  Before he became the leader of Jagdverbande 502 (a special operations unit), Skorzeny fought on the Eastern Front and even won an Iron Cross for bravery. His most famous mission was Operation Oak, the search and rescue of Benito Mussolini, who had been captured and imprisoned by his rivals in the Italy.  Skorzeny led a glider assault on Gran Sasso Mountain, where Mussolini was being held, and captured him without having to fire a single shot.  Skorzeny brought Mussolini back to Hitler.  Hitler was overjoyed.  Skorzeny was tasked to lead many other commando missions including: Operation Rosselsprung: Kidnap Josip Tito (the future leader of communist Yugoslavia)Operation Panzerfaust: Kidnap the son of Miklos Horthy (king of Hungary) to persuade him to stay in the AxisOperation Greif: Infiltrate behind allied lines at the battle of the bulge and spread chaos and c