Published: 15:15 BST, 29 May 2020 | Updated: 15:15 BST, 29 May 2020
Who was Otto Skorzeny, Adolf Hitler's favourite commando
Otto Skorzeny was born in Vienna, Austria in 1908 and tour quảng châu từ hà nội was once described as 'the most dangerous man in Europe'.
His most famous operation involved the rescuing of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in September 1944.
He led a group of commandos in a pair of gliders to storm the mountain top hotel where Mussolini was being held. The allies believed the location was safe as it could only be accessed by cable car.
The 6'4" commando was a national hero upon his return to Germany and was awarded an Iron Cross for saving the Italian dictator.
Waffen-SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Skorzeny, who rescued Benito Mussolini from imprisonment after his overthrow. Gran Sasso, Italy - 12 Sep 1943 World War II, Hitler commended Skorzeny for this daring glider-plane mission
Otto Skorzeny, the Austrian Nazi officer who freed Mussolini, photographed during his lawsuit in Nuremberg - 1947
Skorzeny had a prominent five-inch scar on his cheek which he received in a fencing duel in university.
The SS officer publicly denied any involvement in Operational Long Jump, though he revelled in his reputation as 'the most dangerous man in Europe'.
Towards the end of the war, Skorzeny was responsible for sabotaging the invasion of Germany.
His last major action in the war was at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest - which had him brought before the War Crimes tribunal.
Skorzeny was a distinctive character, standing at 6'4 inches tall and weighting over 250 lbs. He also had a large scar on his cheek that he sustained while jousting in a university fencing match, he came to be known as 'Scarface' for this feature
He surrendered to US troops which saw him brought before the Dachau tribunal - a smaller version of the trials at Nuremberg.
Skorzeny ordered his men to dress in American uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge. However, he was acquitted at the Dachau trials after a British officer admitted wearing an enemy uniform was something the Allies had done.
According to documents in the National Archives in Kew, Skorzeny had been developing 'poison bullets' which he had claimed were for suicide, though Allied war crimes investigators believed they were to be used in assassinations.
He managed to escape from custody dressed as a US military policeman along with several other SS officers.
After hiding out for a time in Bavaria, he was pictured outside a cafe on Paris's Champs Elysées.
The photo appeared in the French press the next day, causing him to flee to Salzburg to evade capture.
After a short while he moved to Madrid. Spain was still in the grip of fascist dictator Francisco Franco and Skorzeny was among many former Nazis to find comfort and respite there.
A considerably older Otto Skorzeny outside his property, Martinstown House, in the Curragh in Kildare with his dog
In 1952 he was 'denazified' in absentia by a West German court like many former low-ranking Nazis, which allowed him to travel freely outside of fascist strongholds like Spain.
From Madrid he moved to Egypt for a stint in training the Egyptian army, and then he followed a well-travelled Nazi route to Latin America, and Juan Peron's Argentina.
He acted as bodyguard - and allegedly had an affair with - Eva Peron, before arriving in Ireland in June 1957.
However, in 1959, Skorzeny bought a large farm, Martinstown House, in Kildare, Ireland.
Otto Skorzeny rarely visited the island after 1963 and sold Martinstown House in 1971. He lived out his remaining years in Madrid.
He died of cancer in 1975 and was buried by his former comrades with his coffin draped in the Nazi colours.
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Hitler's top commando Otto Skorzeny developed the plan to assassinate the Big Three during a top secret meeting in Tehran taking place in...
Who was Otto Skorzeny, Adolf Hitler's favourite commando
Otto Skorzeny was born in Vienna, Austria in 1908 and tour quảng châu từ hà nội was once described as 'the most dangerous man in Europe'.
His most famous operation involved the rescuing of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in September 1944.
He led a group of commandos in a pair of gliders to storm the mountain top hotel where Mussolini was being held. The allies believed the location was safe as it could only be accessed by cable car.
The 6'4" commando was a national hero upon his return to Germany and was awarded an Iron Cross for saving the Italian dictator.
Waffen-SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Skorzeny, who rescued Benito Mussolini from imprisonment after his overthrow. Gran Sasso, Italy - 12 Sep 1943 World War II, Hitler commended Skorzeny for this daring glider-plane mission
Otto Skorzeny, the Austrian Nazi officer who freed Mussolini, photographed during his lawsuit in Nuremberg - 1947
Skorzeny had a prominent five-inch scar on his cheek which he received in a fencing duel in university.
The SS officer publicly denied any involvement in Operational Long Jump, though he revelled in his reputation as 'the most dangerous man in Europe'.
Towards the end of the war, Skorzeny was responsible for sabotaging the invasion of Germany.
His last major action in the war was at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest - which had him brought before the War Crimes tribunal.
Skorzeny was a distinctive character, standing at 6'4 inches tall and weighting over 250 lbs. He also had a large scar on his cheek that he sustained while jousting in a university fencing match, he came to be known as 'Scarface' for this feature
He surrendered to US troops which saw him brought before the Dachau tribunal - a smaller version of the trials at Nuremberg.
Skorzeny ordered his men to dress in American uniforms during the Battle of the Bulge. However, he was acquitted at the Dachau trials after a British officer admitted wearing an enemy uniform was something the Allies had done.
According to documents in the National Archives in Kew, Skorzeny had been developing 'poison bullets' which he had claimed were for suicide, though Allied war crimes investigators believed they were to be used in assassinations.
He managed to escape from custody dressed as a US military policeman along with several other SS officers.
After hiding out for a time in Bavaria, he was pictured outside a cafe on Paris's Champs Elysées.
The photo appeared in the French press the next day, causing him to flee to Salzburg to evade capture.
After a short while he moved to Madrid. Spain was still in the grip of fascist dictator Francisco Franco and Skorzeny was among many former Nazis to find comfort and respite there.
A considerably older Otto Skorzeny outside his property, Martinstown House, in the Curragh in Kildare with his dog
In 1952 he was 'denazified' in absentia by a West German court like many former low-ranking Nazis, which allowed him to travel freely outside of fascist strongholds like Spain.
From Madrid he moved to Egypt for a stint in training the Egyptian army, and then he followed a well-travelled Nazi route to Latin America, and Juan Peron's Argentina.
He acted as bodyguard - and allegedly had an affair with - Eva Peron, before arriving in Ireland in June 1957.
However, in 1959, Skorzeny bought a large farm, Martinstown House, in Kildare, Ireland.
Otto Skorzeny rarely visited the island after 1963 and sold Martinstown House in 1971. He lived out his remaining years in Madrid.
He died of cancer in 1975 and was buried by his former comrades with his coffin draped in the Nazi colours.
Advertisement
Read articles that feature this panel
Nazi commandos came 'appallingly close' to assassinating Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt as leaders met at secret 1943 summit in Tehran to...
Hitler's top commando Otto Skorzeny developed the plan to assassinate the Big Three during a top secret meeting in Tehran taking place in...
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