Customer Reviews

Skorzeny's Special Missions: The Memoirs of "The Most Dangerous Man in Europe"

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I bought this book seeking practical knowledge, never thinking that I'd actually be entertained. Skorzeny is best known for starting the infamous ODESSA organization for aiding escaped war crininals. Don't buy the book looking for information about ODESSA though; it's not there. A few secrets followed him to his grave.

It is important not to look upon Skorzeny as simply an escaped prisoner of war asserting his braging rights from a safe harbor. Skorzeny was an extraordinary soldier, a commander of special forces before people knew what special forces were. A captain in a Waffen SS special warfare unit, Skorzeny's career takes off when he is selected by Hitler-- quite possibly the only good strategic decision he ever made-- to lead a raid to rescue Mussolini after his overthrow in 1943. It is clear that by all accounts, the rescue never would have succeeded without Skorzeny's raw leadership skills and ability to chop through political red tape. The book gives a surprisingly honest and often hilarious account of his ability to succeed in spite of the "help" provided by his 'upper management'.

Something that struck me about 'The most dangerous man in Europe' is the lack of ego as he tells his story. There is little embellishment of the facts as he tells of his exploits; if anything the weakness of the book lies in its lack of detail. The tale is, of course, unfinished and in places seems full of holes and half-truths. I am sure this is what he intended, as it leaves speculators to add to his infamous legacy. Those who could fill in the details accurately were either running for their lives or at the end of a rope.

Regardless, a good soldier has a duty and a right to defend his country no matter how wrong. It must be remembered that Skorzeny was a soldier-- a man of action, not of politics. It is for that that he deserves a measure of respect.

From his birth to the end of the world war II, Otto tells it through his eyes; the glory and horror of war. His visit to Naples before the war springs his millitary career into high gear. Brilliant millitary success after success drives him to elite status; making him crude and rutless to be feared... "Hitler's favorite commando". A must for die-harden fans.

Unrepentant and loudmouthed is the way Skorzeny lead his life and the men of his SS special forces. If you want to read a revisionist, mealy-mouthed apology by a man who lived his life on the edge, this is NOT the book. On the other hand, if you want to gain perspective into the man and his times AS THEY REALLY WERE, this is the book for you. A great read, but for the full story, read "My Commando Operations." No professional military officer should be without this book.

An engineer by trade, Otto Skorzeny never really aspired to a military career. However, after joining the Waffen S.S., and the events of the Anschluss, Skorzeny soon volunteered for military service, originally in a support role. His rather mundane and obscure beginnings in military service gave no hint as to the brash and spectacular missions he would lead in the last half of World War II, ...as Hitler's most favored commando.

This is Skorzeny's personal recollection of several significant events that he participated in. This account is particularly interesting for some of his impressions of notorious major Nazi party members, such as Hitler, Himmler, Kaltenbruner, etc. This narrative will give the reader plenty of intriguing insight into events behind the scenes of Axis politics and strategy. However, Skorzeny's account seems rather vague in some parts, where the reader may have hoped to obtain more information.

Some major points of interest:
-Skorzeny discusses several potential operations that never came to be, such as attacking British oil pipelines from Iraq and sabotage of the Suez Canal.
-He collaborated with Hitler's favorite test-pilot, Hanna Reitsch, in developing a manned V-1 rocket for "kamikaze" attacks.
-Detailed accounts of such dramatic actions as the resue of Musolini, the seizure of the Hungarian government headquarters, and covert actions in the Battle of the Bulge.
-Collaboration with Count Borghese, head of Italy's naval commando unit X-MAS, and the subsequent devolopment of naval special-operations in the German Navy.
-The 1944 attempted rescue of Lt.Col. Scherhorn's isolated battle-group, lost well-behind enemy lines in Soviet territory north of Minsk.

Otto Skorzeny was one of the few National Socialists to be spared the noose at the Nuremberg trials. Not a particularly political man, Skorzeny seems to have affiliated with the Nazis largely for opportunistic and nationalistic reasons. He was basically just a very successful special-operator for Germany. He was tried on the basis of "war-crimes", deploying his personnel disguised in Allied uniforms for operations behind the lines. It was pointed out that the Allies had also used such methods quite frequently in their actions against the Axis.

Although Skorzeny appears to have been ideologically a Nazi in only a nominal sense, it must be noted that after the war, he was thoroughly active in ODESSA, a Nazi undergound organization that assisted several war-criminals in escaping to South America and other nations with Nazi sympathies. He also voiced certain attempts at "justifying" the crimes of the National Socialist Party and the S.S., and this must not be disregarded.

How many Nazi criminals escaped their turn at the gallows because of Skorzeny's post-war interference?

While not a great writer, skorzeny provides a very interesting memoir, absent of self-promotion and well worth the read. This is a must-read for anyone interested in elite units. ...

This book is an amusing work of fiction, or, as the commander of the Mussolini rescue mission (Operation Eicke), Luftwaffe Major Harald Mors said after the war, "a fairy tale." Skorzeny had nothing to do with the planning or execution of the Mussolini mission. He begged permission from the General officer in charge, Luftwaffe General Kurt Student, to go along in one of the gliders for the ride, then forced his way into the 2-seat little plane carrying Mussolini to safety and claimed all the credit for the mission when it landed. Skorzeny was not the "most dangerous man in Europe," but he was certainly its biggest liar. Mors, Student, Berlepsch, and a dozen other participants tried for years after the war to set the record straight, but the Skorzeny myth is written in stone. Buy this book if you want to read the arrogant, self-serving and fictional exploits of an uncouth, loud-mouthed liar.

Being written by 'the man', this is the definitive book on Skorzeny. For those wishing to learn everything about his exploits, this book is unparalleled.

However, I too question what has been omitted- I doubt he was as innocent as he states. I also question his view of history (particularly the importance of the Red Orchestra- the Russian spy network Otto claims provided realtime detailed info on everything the German's did). I also did not like the fact that he gives 2-3 paragraphs to apologize for Nazi/SS acts and several chapters to justify most of their actions. Lastly, this book is full of spelling mistakes, grammar errors, etc.- I guess Otto never got an Editor.

Overall I think Otto was trying to clean-up his legacy before he died. I great soldier, yes, but still a Nazi following Hitler- how great does that make him in the end? He sounds scorned and jaded and a bit deluded- I feel kinda sad for the guy.

chris

Skorzeny's special missions are the memoirs of Otto Skorzeny the former head of Germany's commando forces. His motives for writing this book although not formally stated are easily found in the book. His motives are as follows. First and foremost to attempt to rationalize his action and to some extent all of Germanys actions during the second world war. Secondly to attempt to state what he did for his point of view in an attempt to clear up myths and legends about himself. The Book chronicles his adventures in the German army from his beginnings as an artillery Sergeant and latter officer in the "Das Riech" Division of the Waffen SS through his rise to the head of German Special Forces. Skorzeny Includes detailed accounts of his rescue of Mussolini, his seizer of the Main government compound of Hungry when they attempted to create a separate piece with the Soviet Union, the ill fated Ardennes offensive of 1944, as well as a number of other exploits. Notably missing form the book is any mention of ODESSA. ODESSA said to be founded by Skorzeny is the Nazi underground witch is reportably responsible for helping numerous Nazi war criminals escape allied justice. One of the better known people ODESSA is said to have helped is Albert Eichman. Also missing is his escape from a Denazification camp. His first Purpose as stated in the beginning I have chosen a few examples of and out line some of their faults. To justify stubborn German rezitence when it was clear that Germany was doomed to defeat he ask the question would not you do the same for your country? In answer to this question I would say no why should one fight and destroy my own country when I have no chance of victory. It mearly would cause more death and more destruction. His main justification for himself and all other Germans fighting is that they were fighting for their country. This at first sounds like a good argument, but then you must think was he really fighting for his country or was he fighting for Adolf Hitler? That is a question can never truly be answered. His second purpose to dispel myths and legends I find amusing. For instance he was believed to have planned an attack on allied headquarters in Pairs. He completely denies this, but I can not believe this complete becaouse he complete fails to mention his Involvement in ODDESA or his escape form a Denazification camp. In closing I though the book was interesting and worth reading. Though I would not take any of the statements to heart. He failed to mention one thing so he probably failed to mention others. If you read it I suggest you treat it as fiction.