Editing Otto Skorzeny (section)

== 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.