Otto Skorzeny

Otto Skorzeny

Early Years

Otto Skorzeny, born June 12, 1908, in Vienna, Austria, was a notorious SS officer during World War II, celebrated by the Nazis for his audacious commando operations and later infamous for his post-war activities as a mercenary and networker among ex-Nazis. Raised in a middle-class family, Skorzeny studied engineering at the Technical University of Vienna, where he joined nationalist student groups and engaged in dueling, earning facial scars that became his trademark. His early fascination with militarism and nationalism led him to join the Austrian Nazi Party in 1931, aligning with Hitler’s ideology before Austria’s annexation in 1938.

WW2 Experience and Nazi ties

Skorzeny enlisted in the Waffen-SS in 1939, serving in the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler division. His early war service included campaigns in France, the Netherlands, and the Balkans, where he displayed courage but also a ruthless streak. Standing over 6 feet tall with a commanding presence, Skorzeny’s physicality and cunning caught the attention of SS leadership. By 1943, he was tasked with special operations, earning his reputation as Hitler’s “favorite commando.” His most famous exploit was Operation Oak in September 1943, rescuing Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from captivity in a daring raid on Gran Sasso. Skorzeny’s team used gliders to storm the mountain hotel, freeing Mussolini without firing a shot—an operation that cemented his legend within Nazi propaganda.

Other operations showcased Skorzeny’s flair for unconventional warfare. During the 1944 Battle of the Bulge, he led Operation Greif, infiltrating English-speaking German soldiers in American uniforms behind Allied lines to sow confusion. Though partially successful, the operation’s impact was limited, and captured infiltrators faced execution. Skorzeny also orchestrated Operation Panzerfaust in 1944, kidnapping Hungarian regent Miklós Horthy’s son to prevent Hungary’s defection to the Soviets, securing Nazi control over Budapest. These missions highlighted his knack for psychological warfare and improvisation, though some historians argue his successes were exaggerated by Nazi media.

OSS/CIA Ties

Otto Skorzeny’s Time in Spain After escaping from a Darmstadt internment camp in 1948, Otto Skorzeny, a former SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of Hitler’s favored commandos, moved through Bavaria, Paris, and Salzburg before settling in Madrid, Spain, in 1950. Spain, under Franco’s fascist regime, was a haven for former Nazis due to its neutral stance during World War II and ideological alignment with aspects of National Socialism and fascism. Skorzeny established himself in Madrid under the cover of a small engineering and export-import business, which served as a front for his broader activities.

Life in Madrid: In Madrid, Skorzeny reinvented himself as a businessman and arms dealer, leveraging his wartime connections. Skorzeny lived comfortably, marrying Countess Ilse Lüthje, allegedly the niece of Hitler’s former finance minister Hjalmar Schacht. His engineering business provided legitimacy, but he was deeply involved in post-war Nazi networks and intelligence activities. His Madrid apartment became a hub for journalists, CIA operatives, and even Mossad agents, drawn by his reputation as “the most dangerous man in Europe.”

Connections with Franco’s Regime: Skorzeny acted as a security adviser to Spain’s Interior Ministry, assisting the Brigada Político-Social, Franco’s secret police, in maintaining internal control. This role aligned with his expertise in commando tactics and intelligence.

Die Spinne and ODESSA: Skorzeny is alleged to have coordinated the Nazi escape network Die Spinne (The Spider) and served as the Spanish coordinator for ODESSA, organizations that helped SS members flee to Spain, Argentina, and other countries. Estimates suggest he aided up to 600 former SS officers. However, evidence of a centralized ODESSA network is debated, and some historians argue these were loosely affiliated groups.

He reportedly worked as a military advisor to Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1950s, training commandos alongside other ex-Nazis, and advised Argentina’s Perón regime. He worked with Western intelligence in Algeria for France and against the freedom fighters during their fight for independence from France. Skorzeny is alleged to have been involved in gun-running to support the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) during the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962) against France. His network of ex-Nazis and arms dealers, operating through Spain, facilitated weapons shipments to Algerian rebels, aligning with his history of working with anti-colonial movements (e.g., in Egypt).

Congo: Skorzeny is linked to supporting Moïse Tshombe, a pro-Western leader in the Congo Crisis (1960–1965), through arms supply or mercenary coordination. His Paladin Group, a fascist paramilitary organization founded in 1970, was active in such conflicts, but earlier involvement in the Congo would have leveraged his Die Spinne network. The suppport for Tshombe led to his being used by NATO at their Congo base in Katanga to create an insurrection of the province of Katanga into a separate state. Katanga contained the uranium mines coveted by the United States, along with many other natural resources. The United States immediately recognized Katanga as a separate country. The CIA, along with Skorzeny, orchestrated the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and dissolving his body in acid.

Operation Gladio Activities

Controversially, Skorzeny was linked to Operation Gladio, NATO’s clandestine “stay-behind” networks in Europe. His ties to intelligence agencies and arms trafficking fueled his enigmatic reputation. In the 1960s, he worked with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, providing information on German scientists aiding Egypt’s missile program—a claim that underscores his opportunistic nature. Skorzeny’s memoirs, published in the 1950s, blend fact and self-aggrandizement, reflecting his desire to shape his legacy.

Affiliation with the Gehlen Organization (West Germany's version of the CIA: BND)

The Gehlen Organization, led by former Wehrmacht General Reinhard Gehlen, was a CIA-backed intelligence network formed after World War II to gather information on the Soviet Union, primarily using ex-Nazis. Skorzeny’s involvement began during his time in Bavaria (1948–1950) and continued in Spain.

Recruitment and Role: While hiding in Bavaria, Skorzeny was in contact with Gehlen and Hartmann Lauterbacher (former Hitler Youth deputy). Together, they recruited ex-Nazis for the Gehlen Organization, leveraging Skorzeny’s SS connections and commando expertise. The organization, initially under U.S. Army control and later CIA oversight, valued Skorzeny’s ability to organize and network.

Activities: Skorzeny’s work included intelligence gathering and coordinating ex-Nazi operatives across Europe and Latin America. His role extended to financial management for the “Circle of Friends,” a group of Nazi loyalists, reportedly handling funds reclaimed from figures like Eva Perón.

Egyptian Assignment: In 1953, Gehlen, now indirectly working for the CIA, sent Skorzeny to Egypt to serve as a military adviser to General Mohammed Naguib (and later Gamal Abdel Nasser). Skorzeny recruited former SS and Wehrmacht officers, including Wilhelm Fahrmbacher, Oskar Munzel, Leopold Gleim, and Joachim Daemling, to train the Egyptian army and Arab volunteers, including Palestinians, for potential operations against British forces in the Suez Canal zone and raids into Israel via Gaza (1953–1954). This assignment strengthened his ties to Gehlen’s network and the CIA.

Building U.S. Bases in Spain with a Partner and Construction Company

U.S.-Spain Agreements: In 1953, the U.S. and Spain signed the Pact of Madrid, allowing the U.S. to establish air and naval bases (e.g., Rota, Morón, and Torrejón) in exchange for economic and military aid to Franco’s regime. Construction required local partnerships, and Skorzeny’s engineering background and connections in Spain position him as a plausible participant.

Skorzeny’s Construction Company: Skorzeny’s Madrid-based engineering firm was involved in subcontracting or logistical support for base construction, consistent with his ties to Franco’s government and the CIA. His business was a cover for intelligence activities, but it also had legitimate operations, including construction or infrastructure projects.

Death

Skorzeny died of lung cancer on July 5, 1975, in Madrid, unrepentant about his Nazi past. His life embodies the complexities of a skilled operative who thrived in chaos, navigating from Hitler’s inner circle to a shadowy post-war world of espionage and ideology. While admired by some for his tactical brilliance, Skorzeny’s legacy is tainted by his unwavering commitment to authoritarian causes and his role in enabling Nazi fugitives. His story remains a chilling study of loyalty, opportunism, and the enduring impact of wartime networks in the Cold War era.