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Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini: The Most Infamous Commando Operation of World War II
The Allied invasion of Italy pressed on through the summer of 1943, the strutting dictator, Mussolini, was overthrown and imprisoned by his own people in a remote mountaintop resort. Furious at the turn of events, Adolf Hitler, Il Duce 's sworn ally, promised to rescue Mussolini and restore the Rome-Berlin Axis. On September 12, a small convoy of glider aircraft suddenly began crash-landing near the hotel-prison where Mussolini was held and German commandos poured out of the half-wrecked planes. The soldiers quickly overwhelmed the hotel and seized Mussolini, who had watched the drama unfold from a second-story window. "I knew my friend Adolf Hitler would not abandon me," said a grinning Mussolini to his rescuers. Hitler's rescue of Mussolini was one of the most famous commando operations of the twentieth century and shocked a war-weary world. It was also the dramatic culmination of the bizarre relationship between Hitler and Mussolini-a relationship that had disastrous consequences for the globe. In this vivid and lively narrative filled with drama, intrigue, action, and some of history's most notorious characters, author Greg Annussek recounts the dramatic story of Germany's secret six-week operation to find and rescue the prisoner Mussolini and restore him to power.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 4, 2020
Greg Annussek's work is a suspenseful, entertaining historical account of Operation Oak, Hitler's infamous raid to save Benito Mussolini.
On June 24, 1943, during a nightly session of the Grand Council of Fascism, "the lofty name given to a glorified gang of Mussolini's political henchmen", a band of rebellious subordinates staged a dramatic revolt. One after another, several of the Duce's top lieutenants criticized him and his disastrous conduct of the war. "You have imposed a dictatorship on Italy," declared Dino Grandi, the band's ringleader. "You have destroyed the spirit of our Armed Forces . . . For years when selecting someone among several candidates for an important post, you have invariably selected the worst."
Indeed, the Duce's star had dimmed in recent months, and the crisis culminated with the Allied invasion of Sicily. Mussolini knew that an invasion of the Italian mainland could not be far off, and he was helpless to stop it. He had hoped to receive reinforcements from Hitler, but the Nazis' resources were already stretched to the limit, and the Führer was doubting the Italian will to fight. The Duce was desperately trying to secure the support of his fellow Axis partner Japan; in general, as Annussek comments, three years after plunging Italy into World War II at Hitler's urging, the Duce was scrambling to stave off the inevitable.
Meanwhile, King Victor Emmanuel, in a league with a cabal of Italian generals, was the main mover behind a conspiracy designed to overthrow the dictator together with his Fascist regime. When Mussolini arrived at Villa Savoia, Victor Emmanuel's residence on the outskirts of the capital, for an audience with him, the king reminded the Duce that he is "the most hated man in Italy", tactlessly recited the chorus ("Down with Mussolini, murderer of the Alpini"), and announced that he is forming a new cabinet. To Mussolini's astonishment, the king named Pietro Badoglio, the former chief of Comando Supremo, who had been dimissed by the Duce in 1940 and who was considered his enemy, as the head of the new Italian government.
The dictator was visibly crushed by the blow, but the biggest surprise was yet to come. After Victor Emmanuel escorted him to the door, the unsuspecting Mussolini – before he could even reach his car – was placed under arrest and spirited away to a secret location.
The King had no intention to continue the bloody, destructive war, narrates Annussek. He was prepared to break away from the Axis and seek the mercy of the Allies as soon as the time was ripe, and the ex-Duce, reasoned he, might prove to be a valuable peace offering to the would be invaders. Victor Emmanuel was also planning to conceal his peace offensive from Hitler while reaffirming Italy's commitment to the Axis.
Yet, the Führer was not be deceived so easily. He had become increasingly suspicious of the Italian royal house in recent months, and as soon as the news of the Italian coup reached the Wolf's Lair, he knew that Mussolini "must be rescued, speedily, otherwise they will deliver him up to the Allies."
Why was Hitler so determined to save Mussolini? Greg Annussek compellingly explores the two dictators' relationship to show that while the two men weren't friends, they still had a strange, dysfunctional bond. Hitler showed surprising loyalty to Mussolini, but never trusted him. In fact, he was always worried that the Duce and Ciano, Mussolini's son in law and Foreign Minister of Italy, would inform the enemy of his intentions – as they sometimes did. "Every memorandum I wrote to the Duce," remarked the Führer, "immediately reached England. Therefore I only wrote things I absolutely wanted to get to England. That was the best way to hey something through go England quickly."
Although the coup of July 25 was certainly a personal affront to Hitler, whose friendship with Mussolini was well-known, there was much more at stake. An Italian surrender could prove catastrophic for the Nazis, who were counting on their Mediterranean partner to help defend the southern front against the Allies. If the Italians suddenly threw open the gates to the enemy, Hitler feared, the British and American forces might attack the Third Reich itself. To foil the plans of Badoglio and the Allies, therefore, it was crucial to find the Duce and place him at the head of a restored Fascist government.
Thus, Operation Oak was born, with Otto Skorzeny, General Student, the paratroopers, the failures, and the bombing of the airport. I will reveal nothing more in this review, though; I'd rather keep the suspense fresh for you.
Annussek draws upon first hand accounts to piece together his gripping story of Mussolini's rescue. While some details remain unclear due to contradictory claims made by Rodl, Student, and the paratroopers (for example, whether Skorzeny had or had not played a major role in the planning of the operation), the book is clear, graphic, and much fun to read. Especially remarkable is Annussek's talent for recreating dialogues – they are engaging enough for a novel.
On June 24, 1943, during a nightly session of the Grand Council of Fascism, "the lofty name given to a glorified gang of Mussolini's political henchmen", a band of rebellious subordinates staged a dramatic revolt. One after another, several of the Duce's top lieutenants criticized him and his disastrous conduct of the war. "You have imposed a dictatorship on Italy," declared Dino Grandi, the band's ringleader. "You have destroyed the spirit of our Armed Forces . . . For years when selecting someone among several candidates for an important post, you have invariably selected the worst."
Indeed, the Duce's star had dimmed in recent months, and the crisis culminated with the Allied invasion of Sicily. Mussolini knew that an invasion of the Italian mainland could not be far off, and he was helpless to stop it. He had hoped to receive reinforcements from Hitler, but the Nazis' resources were already stretched to the limit, and the Führer was doubting the Italian will to fight. The Duce was desperately trying to secure the support of his fellow Axis partner Japan; in general, as Annussek comments, three years after plunging Italy into World War II at Hitler's urging, the Duce was scrambling to stave off the inevitable.
Meanwhile, King Victor Emmanuel, in a league with a cabal of Italian generals, was the main mover behind a conspiracy designed to overthrow the dictator together with his Fascist regime. When Mussolini arrived at Villa Savoia, Victor Emmanuel's residence on the outskirts of the capital, for an audience with him, the king reminded the Duce that he is "the most hated man in Italy", tactlessly recited the chorus ("Down with Mussolini, murderer of the Alpini"), and announced that he is forming a new cabinet. To Mussolini's astonishment, the king named Pietro Badoglio, the former chief of Comando Supremo, who had been dimissed by the Duce in 1940 and who was considered his enemy, as the head of the new Italian government.
The dictator was visibly crushed by the blow, but the biggest surprise was yet to come. After Victor Emmanuel escorted him to the door, the unsuspecting Mussolini – before he could even reach his car – was placed under arrest and spirited away to a secret location.
The King had no intention to continue the bloody, destructive war, narrates Annussek. He was prepared to break away from the Axis and seek the mercy of the Allies as soon as the time was ripe, and the ex-Duce, reasoned he, might prove to be a valuable peace offering to the would be invaders. Victor Emmanuel was also planning to conceal his peace offensive from Hitler while reaffirming Italy's commitment to the Axis.
Yet, the Führer was not be deceived so easily. He had become increasingly suspicious of the Italian royal house in recent months, and as soon as the news of the Italian coup reached the Wolf's Lair, he knew that Mussolini "must be rescued, speedily, otherwise they will deliver him up to the Allies."
Why was Hitler so determined to save Mussolini? Greg Annussek compellingly explores the two dictators' relationship to show that while the two men weren't friends, they still had a strange, dysfunctional bond. Hitler showed surprising loyalty to Mussolini, but never trusted him. In fact, he was always worried that the Duce and Ciano, Mussolini's son in law and Foreign Minister of Italy, would inform the enemy of his intentions – as they sometimes did. "Every memorandum I wrote to the Duce," remarked the Führer, "immediately reached England. Therefore I only wrote things I absolutely wanted to get to England. That was the best way to hey something through go England quickly."
Although the coup of July 25 was certainly a personal affront to Hitler, whose friendship with Mussolini was well-known, there was much more at stake. An Italian surrender could prove catastrophic for the Nazis, who were counting on their Mediterranean partner to help defend the southern front against the Allies. If the Italians suddenly threw open the gates to the enemy, Hitler feared, the British and American forces might attack the Third Reich itself. To foil the plans of Badoglio and the Allies, therefore, it was crucial to find the Duce and place him at the head of a restored Fascist government.
Thus, Operation Oak was born, with Otto Skorzeny, General Student, the paratroopers, the failures, and the bombing of the airport. I will reveal nothing more in this review, though; I'd rather keep the suspense fresh for you.
Annussek draws upon first hand accounts to piece together his gripping story of Mussolini's rescue. While some details remain unclear due to contradictory claims made by Rodl, Student, and the paratroopers (for example, whether Skorzeny had or had not played a major role in the planning of the operation), the book is clear, graphic, and much fun to read. Especially remarkable is Annussek's talent for recreating dialogues – they are engaging enough for a novel.
October 10, 2017
It was an easy and enjoyable read, that not only covers the Operation Eiche but also gives a very thorough overview of the German-Italian relations during the war. It also chronicles the Mussolini "odyssey" after he was arrested. The author did his job well, almost every other sentence having a note source; also his sources, or bibliography is simply impressive. Another nice touch was that he pinpointed out the inaccuracies between Skorzeny's and Student's point of view of the operation. All in all, a very good book if you are interested in this subject.
November 6, 2011
Congratulations, Da Capo Press.
You didn't call this book STRIKE FORCE DUCE: Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or GLIDER GLADIATORS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or MOUNTAIN COMMANDOS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or FLIGHT OF RAPTORS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini. No, you simply called it what it's about: Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini. Hopefully it will mark a refreshing trend of getting to the point in war book titles.
Despite the inherent drama and historical interest in this story--a 1943 Nazi glider and paratroop raid on an Italian mountaintop compound to rescue Il Duce, held captive by the coup that ousted him, and which involved an elaborate geopolitical shell game--there haven't previously been any comprehensive books about it or about the complications of the Berlin-Rome rift that occurred while the Italians gingerly tried to finesse their way out of the war and their Axis alliance.
This book, while not scintillating in a novelistic way, lays out the whole story in an efficient, detailed, chronological manner, and for that I have no complaint. It is impeccably researched, and deftly sifts through the many contradictory accounts and disputed facts about the raid, mainly due to the professional rivalries of several of the military participants who wanted to claim credit for its success.
The story of the perils facing the Italian leadership during this time as they attempted secret peace negotiations with the Allies with great dread about the fear of Nazi reprisals is fascinating, a little-told story of the war and an aspect that deepens one's understanding of the Italian campaign. As told in this book, the raid itself is long in coming, but I think that is justified as author Annussek meticulously reconstructs the events that led to it, which I find to be of great service in lieu of the dearth of material heretofore. I also like the generosity of Annussek's voice as he attempts a fair and balanced presentation in spite of the conflicting information. He really strives to get to the truth.
The cat-and-mouse game the new Italian government played with the Germans (who were still supposedly their allies) to hide Mussolini from Hitler--shuttling him from one location to another while Hitler's spies honed in on their target--is fun and sometimes funny to comprehend. Annussek also provides an interesting take on Mussolini, presenting him often in a (relatively) sympathetic light, at least in contrast to the cold-blooded Hitler.
While this is not the most excitingly written book of this type, it is not nearly as badly done as some other reviewers suggest. The story itself holds great interest and adds another piece to the grand puzzle that is World War II.
You didn't call this book STRIKE FORCE DUCE: Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or GLIDER GLADIATORS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or MOUNTAIN COMMANDOS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini or FLIGHT OF RAPTORS - Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini. No, you simply called it what it's about: Hitler's Raid to Save Mussolini. Hopefully it will mark a refreshing trend of getting to the point in war book titles.
Despite the inherent drama and historical interest in this story--a 1943 Nazi glider and paratroop raid on an Italian mountaintop compound to rescue Il Duce, held captive by the coup that ousted him, and which involved an elaborate geopolitical shell game--there haven't previously been any comprehensive books about it or about the complications of the Berlin-Rome rift that occurred while the Italians gingerly tried to finesse their way out of the war and their Axis alliance.
This book, while not scintillating in a novelistic way, lays out the whole story in an efficient, detailed, chronological manner, and for that I have no complaint. It is impeccably researched, and deftly sifts through the many contradictory accounts and disputed facts about the raid, mainly due to the professional rivalries of several of the military participants who wanted to claim credit for its success.
The story of the perils facing the Italian leadership during this time as they attempted secret peace negotiations with the Allies with great dread about the fear of Nazi reprisals is fascinating, a little-told story of the war and an aspect that deepens one's understanding of the Italian campaign. As told in this book, the raid itself is long in coming, but I think that is justified as author Annussek meticulously reconstructs the events that led to it, which I find to be of great service in lieu of the dearth of material heretofore. I also like the generosity of Annussek's voice as he attempts a fair and balanced presentation in spite of the conflicting information. He really strives to get to the truth.
The cat-and-mouse game the new Italian government played with the Germans (who were still supposedly their allies) to hide Mussolini from Hitler--shuttling him from one location to another while Hitler's spies honed in on their target--is fun and sometimes funny to comprehend. Annussek also provides an interesting take on Mussolini, presenting him often in a (relatively) sympathetic light, at least in contrast to the cold-blooded Hitler.
While this is not the most excitingly written book of this type, it is not nearly as badly done as some other reviewers suggest. The story itself holds great interest and adds another piece to the grand puzzle that is World War II.
June 15, 2013
Does what it says on the tin ...and a refreshing change from the Skorzeny angle
April 18, 2018
This was a really good read. The diplomacy between the Badoglio Government and the Third Reich is something I was only passingly familiar with. Likewise it was quite a revelation the animosity between the SS and the airborne troops who participated in the raid, with Skorzeny getting the lions share of the credit. The search for Mussolini by the Germans, and the Italian attempts to keep him hid is the stuff of spy novels. There could be a decent movie here, but I won't hold my breath.
August 27, 2021
Yksityiskohtainen ja sujuvasti kirjoitettu kuvaus erikoisjoukkojen operaatiosta, jossa vuoristohotelliin vangittu Benito Mussolini vapautettiin syyskuussa 1943.
January 3, 2011
One of the most exciting commando raids of WWII where Il Duce was rescued from captivity from his own people. This book is meticulously researched and footnoted. However, the story switches from perspective and character to character. It is the history of an event rather that the telling of the story itself. The excitement, dashing, and daring character of the story is lost in the details here. The pace of the story was fairly slow and I picked up and read a couple other books in the middle of reading this one. Frankly, while I feel better educated about this event I was a bit disappointed with the overall book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews