Editing Otto Skorzeny (section)

== 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.