My Commando Operations: The Memoirs of Hitler's Most Daring Commando (Schiffer Military History) [Hardcover]

Otto Skorzeny (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schiffer Military History | Publication Date: January 1, 1995

The memoirs of the legendary Skorzeny appear here in its first unabridged English edition. Skorzeny's fame began with the successful raid to free Benito Mussolini from the Gran Sasso, Italy in 1943. His elite commandos surprised Italian guards in a daring daytime raid. Hitler presented Skorzeny with the Knight's Cross for this operation. Not only is this raid explained in minute detail, many of Skorzeny's previously unknown operations in all European and Russian theatres of World War II are given in detailed accounts. Operation Griffin - the innovative use of German Kommandos dressed as American soldiers working behind enemy lines - during the Ardennes Offensive in 1944 is given in-depth coverage, as is Skorzeny's rememberances on the Malmedy massacre. Skorzeny also offers his insights into the mysterious Rudolf Hess mission to England in May 1941, and offers a behind the scenes look at German and Russian secret military intelligence, and the workings of Canaris and Gehlen.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; Reprint. edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887407188
• ISBN-13: 978-0887407185
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reality is stranger than fiction., September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Commando Operations: The Memoirs of Hitler's Most Daring Commando (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

Skorzeny lays down the way proffesional soldiers felt after the defeat of their country in WW II. This book follows his rise from artillery officer to top leader of the Commando service, and tells many of the secrets to their success. He talks about the intelligence war and the failures of German strategic intelligence, as well as many of the successes of the allied effort. While the translation is less than perfect, it gives the feel of sitting down and talking with Skorzeny as he reviews the dark years of the war and the atrocities commited by both sides. A story of undaunted courage and limitless valor, a must read for any serious student of WW II or military intelligence.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the facts; and Skorzeny's beliefs, January 25, 2007

By 

Dimitrios (Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Commando Operations: The Memoirs of Hitler's Most Daring Commando (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

Otto Skorzeny was a daring man with an open mind and a firm believer of Hitler. In his meteoric military carreer he was helped a lot by his appearance (he was a scar-faced giant), his audacity and a good dose of luck. In this book he speaks about everything and everyone, presenting in essence a consice history of World War II in Europe and his impressions of the many Nazi and foreign officials he met. He was a member of the Waffen SS and he takes pride in it, saying that he fought always with honor. He tries really hard to destroy the many myths built around his name and proves that his post-war years were really uneventful- at least as far as commmando raids are concerned. The famous kidnapping of Mussolini takes only a few chapters but there are also some very interesting war episodes for the reader. I personally found Adrian Foelkersam's operation in Maikop far more daring and dangerous (bordering on the unbelievable, for which Foelkersam received his Knight's Cross) than Skorzeny's raid at Gran Sasso. Skorzeny does not deny that he is an admirer of Hitler and expresses his belief that Germany lost the war because of high treason. It seems that for every defeat a traitor was responsible, passing top secret information to the Russians or the Western Allies. According to Skorzeny Hitler was misinformed and misguided by his Generals, who hind the truth from him in many cases. There is room in the book also for the defeats and the bad times of the commando operations. Overall this is a very interesting book from an officer who came to be known like "the most dangerous man in Europe". A few daredevils like Skorzeny and his commandos could give an awful time to every opponent, even under today's standards!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Equal to Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", January 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: My Commando Operations: The Memoirs of Hitler's Most Daring Commando (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

Skorzeny lay's it out the way it happened with no excuses. He examines in detail how his personality and character shaped the conception and formation of German special forces. Furthermore, Skorzeny, again with no apology, discusses the German/Nazi mindset during that period. This book is a valuable asset to any serious-minded military officer's library, and likewise to the more realistic (and less idealistic) student of history.