Skorzeny, Otto

Skorzeny, Otto (1908–75),Austrian-born SS Obersturmbann führer (lt-colonel) who was appointed to the RSHA (Reichs sicherheitshauptamt) in 1942 to organize special commando units, called Friedenthaler Jadgverbände (Friedenthal Hunting Groups) after their training area in a park not far from Berlin. In September 1943 he and 90 men belonging to Student's forces landed in gliders to snatch Mussolini from captivity in the mountains at Gran Sasso in the Abruzzi region of Central Italy, and the success of this operation enabled him to expand his force. He was promoted; given command of special weapons such as those operated by Tenth Light Flotilla; and later supervised the operations of KG200. Unswerving loyalty to Hitler after the July 1944 bomb plot (see Schwarze Kapelle) brought further promotion and in October 1944 he mounted an operation which dissuaded Hungary's regent, Admiral Horthy, from withdrawing from the war: he kidnapped Horthy's main negotiator, his son, and then bluffed his way into the Admiral's citadel and forced him to reverse his announcement of an armistice with the USSR. During the Ardennes campaign a few of his English-speaking men, dressed in American uniforms, penetrated US Army lines which caused considerable panic and some confusion. He may have organized post-war escape routes for SS officers (see Vatican) but he was acquitted of war crimes at the Nuremberg trials.