Mussolini rescue, Storch help please.

[Boomerang]

Hello Ben:

Suggest it was unlikely there was ever a plan to use helicopters for the Mussolini rescue based on:

• very immature state of helicopter technology in 1943, certainly the use of helicpters would be high risk, whereas....
• use of gliders for landing troops on precise locations was well established by 1943 e.g. refer the famous use of glider landed troops to capture the Eben Emael fortress in May 1940

Quite simply, why take unnecessary risks on what was clearly a very hairy operation?

I realise the danger of web-based sources, but this account does tally with what I have previously seen about the Mussolini rescue:

http://www.2worldwar2.com/otto-skorzeny.htm

Cheers

Don

[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.