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.
