Otto Skorzeny and his brave mission to rescue Benito Mussolini

                                
                      When we thought about brave military missions, happened on the back of the world, which required tremendous planning and brave hearts with soul of a lion, our eyes fixes on three incidences. First of course is 9/11 this is because of sudden and unexpected blow to great Americans and superb planning by Al Qaida to pinch New York in its heart.  Second mission is about the brave military planning done to assassinate Hitler by colonel Staffenberg in a mission Valkarie. 

          Staffenberg is considered as a most fearless man in the history of war. Third story is different from both of these two because it had a great deal of danger than that of mission in which Osama Bin laden was captured. This story is about world war second’s most dangerous planner and executioner colonel Otto Skorzeny and his world famous mission to rescue Benito Mussolini.

          ‘Europes most dangerous man’ as been said in post war trial by judges, Skorzeny was born in Austria. The effects of World War 1 caused his family severely poor condition. In his young days he joined German military as an engineer. His special skills to design trunks which would pass oil tankers  to the ship earned him higher rank in military. During war in Poland he used tactic of wearing opposite force’s uniform and suddenly ransacking them.  These special skills forced him to answer Hitler’s call when these leaders order him to join a special secret mission to rescue Benito Mussolini of Italy. Mussoliny so called as duke was Hitler’s only ally. He was overthrown by local government.

           First challenge by Otto skorzeny was to find where Mussoilini is placed. Italian government just tracked the codes of Nazis so they knew that something fishy and Hitler will certainly try to rescue Mussolini. They brought him to Ponzo one of the secret I-land. Skorzeny who was on his search came to know about his location but before he could act Skorzeny was shifted to some other place. After hunting for his location for over two months they finally got information about Skorzeny. There is an interesting story as how skorzeny got his info.

            Skorzeny  revealed that in a bar they saw a girl who was upset on inquiring she told him about his boyfriend who duty was canceled. She told them about Grann Saso, a place which was 6600 meters high. So skorzeny and his men started searching for the place. In a role of environmentalist they started looking for clue and best way was to start conversation. Once Skorzeny obtained to have conversation with a guy who was soldier placed at a base. After talking about few minutes skorzeny said ” I have heard that benito is been shifted in a rome”. The soldier in a hurry of showing that he has real info, “No he is not there Last night we brought him here.”

            The next task was to rescue Mussolini and it was indeed difficult as Mussolini was Placed in hotel well above 6600 meters from the ground. After researching on different options, Skorzeny decided to use Parachutes. So on 12 September 1943 they left to Grann saso with the help of Gliders. However their mission was halted when their gliders were attack by airplanes of opposite force. Only two gliders were remaining and the thing which considered as a grass was actually a steep slope which they forgot to mark. Despite these difficulties they landed on the the hotel. Skorzeny was badly injured. 

            However, with the help of remaining teammates he fought bravely and rescued Mussoliny. "Furrer has send me to take you", said the skorzeny to Mussolini. Mussolini hugged him and then they both went to Hitlars place with the aircraft which can accommodate only two person, however, brave Skorzeny ensured Mussolini that nothing will happen. When they meet Hitler he said “You have just made the history”. In a later mission Otto Skorzeny was awarded with Iron cross, a highest military medal in Germany. The rescue mission is considered as most daring in the history of world war.