A few vignettes from the life of a great soldier who dedicated his life to the survival of the West, Otto Skorzeny: Soldier of the West.
Monograph No. 18
OTTO SKORZENY:
SOLDIER OF THE WEST
by
Kenneth Johns
Published 1997
Western Unity Research Institute
P. О. Box 507
Chalmette, LA 70044
THE DRAMATIC RESCUE of Benito Mussolini from a resort hotel prison atop Gran Sasso mountain some 100 miles northeast of Rome first brought the name of Otto Skorzeny to the attention of the world.
Skorzeny, then a Hauptsturmfohrer in the first German special forces (commandos) organized in World War Il, planned and carried out a glider raidon the mountain stronghold where the Allies in September 1943 were holding the Italian dictator. The daring rescue, successfully executed against great odds, resulted in consternation in the Allied military and political headquarters and jubilation in Germany.
Hitler was naturally delighted at the release of his friend.
Skorzeny found himself showered with decorations. That he earned his Knight’s Cross none can doubt. For good measure he was promoted and decorated by Mussolini as well.
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