Mussolini rescue, Storch help please.

[veltro]

Being aware myself too of the dangers of web sources, I would be very cautious about the role played by Skorzeny in the liberation of Mussolini...

The whole operation was planned by Kurt Student and his Fallschirmjaeger, with Skorzeny being there only as an "observer". He suddenly pulled his rank and put himself on the same Storch with Mussolini (putting the whole operation in danger as the Storch only barely make it on take-off due to the extra weight...) and then presented himself to Hitler as the one who had liberated the Duce!

In an interview given in the 70's to the italian journalist and historian Arrigo Petacco, Kurt Student's eyes filled with rage when he heard Skorzeny's name and he defined him a "swindler and a liar", having stolen the merit of the whole operation.

As a matter of fact, the figure of Skorzeny is controversial, to say the least...

[Boomerang]

Ferdinando:

Thank you very much for that information. The combination of the Fallschirmjager and Skorzeny had always struck me as a little odd.

And your account is certainly consistent with the competing and overlapping agendas characteristic of the Third Reich, where seeking Hitler's attention was all important.

Cheers

Don

[ianatheling]

A photo album attributed to SS officer Erich Priebke is currently on eBay here. It includes numerous photos of those involved in the rescue of Mussolini, including Mussolini and Skorzeny. Also shown on the eBay preview is a DFS 230 landed in the mountains and the Fi156 SJ+LL. The preview pics are poor quality, but hopefully the originals are much better.

Ian

[Brian Bines]

On the 'Yesterday' Freeview channel they are showing a series called Hitler's Idols one episode featured Skorzeny including a couple of post war interviews with him. The Mussolini rescue was covered with some re-enactments and some original film. As these programmes tend to repeat (on at 5pm) might be worth setting the recorder up in case it comes up again.

[VtwinVince]

It is true that the rescue operation was a Luftwaffe mission, not SS, and that Skorzeny was a shameless self-promoter.

[pelagonia]

What about the other two aircraft involved in the transport of the Duce in those eventful days?
The fi156 took him to Pratica di Mare airport, from there, a he 111 brought Mussolini to Vienna, where (if I understand it well) his "liberator" Skorzeny stopped to change into his high uniform. From Vienna, the he111 then flew to Munich. Any info about this plane? Are the informations about these stops correct?
Last, a ju52 took Mussolini to Rastenburg and was duly filmed for the Deutsche Wochenschau. This latter seems to me to carry DC+SE codes. I am seeing right?

Cheers,

Andrea

[ginklo]

Have also a look to youTube Mussolini Gran Sasso

[pelagonia]

So, it seems the ju52. DC+SE was W. Nr. 6720 of the Fliegerstaffel des Führers. Any images around about the he111?

Thanks