They still explain and illuminate the tasks and missions of special forces, if the reader pays attention to the details and connects all the dots. Would make a great movie if the bad guys hadnt pulled it off 784 x 500. Obscure combat formations of the waffenss is an awesome book that details a lot of the units skorzeny worked with after becoming a commando. The gran sasso raid refers to operation eiche, the rescue of italian dictator benito mussolini by german paratroopers led by major ottoharald mors and waffenss commandos in september 1943. Dismantling the skorzeny myth in the gran sasso raid kindle edition by oscar gonzalez lopez. In name, it controlled northern italy but, in fact, the land was under german military control. Italian social republic simple english wikipedia, the. Arrested by his own officers in july 1943, mussolini had been whisked away to an isolated and heavily guarded mountaintop resort, the hotel campo imperatore which could only be reached by a heavily guarded cable car. See the complete raid series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. We miss our glider landing but the ateam stays alive. Description of the book rescuing mussolini gran sasso 1943. On the night between 24 and 25 july 1943, a few weeks after the allied invasion of sicily and bombing.
Ground and parachute drops were impractical so gliders were employed to bring in a rescue team in a daring operation which succeeded at least in part because mussolinis. The gran sasso raid was the rescue of italian dictator benito mussolini by german fallschirmjager led by major harald mors and waffenss commandos notably otto skorzeny in september 1943, during world war ii. The officer behind mussolini as he is walking past the tail of the plane lived in oshawa ont. The airborne operation was ordered by adolf hitler and executed by mors, approved by general kurt student. Situated at six thousand feet high and accessible only by cable car, gran sasso possessed a terrain which was not favorable to landing aircraft. Buy rescuing mussolini gran sasso 1943 raid first edition by robert forczyk, howard gerrard isbn. The hotel was somewhat secluded, and its location at 7,000 feet above sea level added to the measures of security that had already been taken. The operation to free mussolini, who was being held prisoner in a high mountain hotel on the summit of gran sasso, italy in september 1943, is without a doubt one of the most spectacular operations not only of the second world war, but in all military history.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading freeing mussolini. We take the roll of waffenss commandos rescuing mussolini. Dismantling the skorzeny myth in the gran sasso raid free ebook download. The most infamous commando operation of world war ii greg annussek it has to be said right away that the focus of this book is not on the actual raid to rescue benito mussolini, ten chapters go by before he even arrives at gran sasso and only one chapter describes the raid itself, instead the focus is on the. Dismantling the skorzeny myth in the gran sasso raid find the lowest price on pricerunner compare prices from 4 stores save on purchases now. Corso buenos aires shopping street is 2,150 feet away. The successful rescue of imprisoned italian dictator benito mussolini from atop the gran sasso plateau by german gliderborne troops on 12 september 1943 was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. The gran sasso raid refers to operation eiche german foroak, the rescue of italian dictator benito mussolini by german paratroopers led by major ottoharald mors and waffenss commandos in september 1943, during world war ii. Gran sasso men springsummer and fallwinter collections. Arrested by his own officers in july 1943, mussolini had been whisked away to an isolated and heavilyguarded mountain.
Robert forczyk the successful rescue of imprisoned italian dictator benito mussolini from atop the gran sasso plateau was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. And with a force of around 200 armed carabinieris guarding the deposed leader, carrying out a rescue attempt would be an exceedingly onerous undertaking. The successful rescue of imprisoned italian dictator benito mussolini from atop the gran sasso plateau was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. In fact, all of the 38 structures, including offices and service areas are accessible to visitors with mobility limitations such as children, elderly people and people with. The gran sasso and monti della laga national park is one of the largest in italy, with five provinces districts within its borders. The raid book series by multiple authors includes books rangers lead the way pointeduhoc dday 1944, entebbe, the cabanatuan prison raid. It was led by benito mussolini and his republican fascist party. On 25 july 1943, a few weeks after the allied invasion of sicily and bombing of rome, the italian grand council of fascism voted to depose mussolini and replaced him with marshal pietro badoglio.
Rescuing mussolini gran sasso 1943 raid robert forczyk the successful rescue of imprisoned italian dictator benito mussolini from atop the gran sasso plateau by german gliderborne troops on 12 september 1943 was one of the most dramatic special forces operations in military history. Spec opscase studies in special operations warfare. The inaccessibility of hotel campo imperatore, a ski resort complex high up in the gran sasso mountains, made it an ideal spot for placing the italian fascist leader benito mussolini under house. And his promotion to major gave him considerably more credit in intelligence matters among hitlers. The gran sasso is less than a 10minute walk from loreto metro stop, which offers links to milan cathedral and city center. Repubblica sociale italiana or rsi was a provisional government sponsored by and allied with nazi germany. Media in category gran sasso raid the following 87 files are in this category, out of 87 total. The operation to free mussolini, who was being held prisoner in a high mountain hotel on the summit of gran sasso, italy in september 1943, is without a doubt one of the most spectacular operations not only of the second world war, but in all military his. Nazis free captive mussolini extraordinary daring of gran sasso raid. See more ideas about paratrooper, luftwaffe and wwii.
Quite often, books about special forces are heavily based on anecdote and action. Hotel campo imperatore laquila, italy atlas obscura. Dismantling the skorzeny myth in the gran sasso raid oscar gonzalez lopez based on many interviews and analysis of major documents such as letters and reports, and the abundant literature available, this examination dismantles the skorzeny myth and reveals the truth of what really happened in a mission that even churchill called one of great. The latter portion of the book part 2 analyzes missions conducted behind friendly lines, from intelligence gathering in consulates within the united states to the famous gran sasso raid to rescue deposed italian dicta tor benito mussolini. Dismantling the skorzeny myth in the gran sasso raid. See more ideas about walk past, paratrooper and wwii. Mussolini, centre, is escorted to a waiting aircraft after being. Gran sasso springsummer 2020 collections 19022020 16.
Spanish historian gonzalez lopez, who has written extensively in the spanish civil war and the second world war, gives us a very well illustrated, quite detailed account of the liberation of mussolini in late 1943 from a mountain top resort in eastern italy, a translation of the originally spanish. Unfortunately, his work further founders at this point. The airborne operation was personally ordered by adolf hitler, planned and executed by mors, and approved by general kurt student. After the gran sasso raid, otto skorzeny would enjoy enviable favoritism from adolf hitler. Mussolini rescued by the nazis on the gran sasso, 1943. Mussolini was subsequently arrested on king victor emmanuels orders. The park authority has worked effectively to enhance accessibility to a widespread public. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The 1943 german raid on the gran sasso was an effort to rescue the deposed fascist dictator mussolini in order to keep at least part of italy on the axis side of the war. After being moved six times, the former dictator was being held at the albergo rufigo, a luxury hotel at gran sasso in the abruzzi mountains north of rome. The airborne operation was personally ordered by adolf hitler, planned by major harald mors and approved by general kurt student. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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