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Otto Skorzeny: Hitlers favoriete commando
Het bizarre levensverhaal van SS'er Otto Skorzeny, die door sommigen 'de gevaarlijkste man van Europa' werd genoemd.
Stuart Smith schreef de biografie van Otto Skorzeny, Hitlers favoriete commando. SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny was in zijn eigen tijd al legendarisch. Hitlers favoriete commando verwierf een reputatie als durfal en werd bekend om zijn missie in 1943 om de gevangen Mussolini te bevrijden. Het was de eerste actie in een reeks van spectaculaire special ops. Skorzeny’s werkwijze beïnvloedde de aanpak van alle speciale operaties nadien – zoals bleek tijdens de eliminatie van Osama Bin Laden in 2011 door US Navy SEALs. Maar Skorzeny was naast onverschrokken en vindingrijk, vooral ook tot zijn dood in 1975 een overtuigde nazi en nietsontziende killer.
Stuart Smith schreef de biografie van Otto Skorzeny, Hitlers favoriete commando. SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny was in zijn eigen tijd al legendarisch. Hitlers favoriete commando verwierf een reputatie als durfal en werd bekend om zijn missie in 1943 om de gevangen Mussolini te bevrijden. Het was de eerste actie in een reeks van spectaculaire special ops. Skorzeny’s werkwijze beïnvloedde de aanpak van alle speciale operaties nadien – zoals bleek tijdens de eliminatie van Osama Bin Laden in 2011 door US Navy SEALs. Maar Skorzeny was naast onverschrokken en vindingrijk, vooral ook tot zijn dood in 1975 een overtuigde nazi en nietsontziende killer.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 2, 2023
Communist propaganda. No mention of Skorzeny's work for the Mossad. This is a book by a cowardly little man infuriated at the example of a man like Skorzeny.
June 12, 2019
While I understand the record needed straightening as Skorzeny embellished his memoirs, the constant denigration page after page is painful.
January 3, 2020
Poor. An unsuccesfull attempt to down play Skorzeny.
November 30, 2024
Heel zijn levensloop en wat hij heeft gedaan duidelijk beschreven. Wat mij opvalt is dat hij nauwelijks bestraft is en ik kan mij niet ontdoen dat hij meer op zijn kerfstok heeft dan wat er al beschreven staat. Het boek is redelijk dik en heeft veel verwijzingen het is eigenlijk als een soort nasalg werk geschreven.
February 12, 2021
Valt tegen. Getriggerd door de ondertitel 'Hitlers favoriete commando' was ik benieuwd naar commando operaties in WOII, maar het relaas is een lange lijst van gefaalde operaties. Het enige waar Skorzeny bekend om is geworden is de geslaagde bevrijding van Mussolini. Iets wat hij behoorlijk geslaagd uitgebuit heeft.
Daarnaast kom je om in al de verschillende bureaus, afdelingen, ambten en dergelijke wat de leesbaarheid zeker niet bevorderd. Tevens erg veel spelling en grammatica fouten in de vertaling.
Daarnaast kom je om in al de verschillende bureaus, afdelingen, ambten en dergelijke wat de leesbaarheid zeker niet bevorderd. Tevens erg veel spelling en grammatica fouten in de vertaling.
August 26, 2024
Finally, something resembling a balance biography on the topic that helps clear the muddied waters
The most in-depth biography on Skorzeny has, until now, been his own autobiography. Unfortunately that has been quite self-serving, not very truthful and very self-aggrandizing. There has been quite a bit of literature on the man since the war but most of that has been of a relatively short length (i.e., many magazine articles but few books) and has tended to present him as either a die-hard Nazi or, more commonly, as a superman-like commando. The post-war period, in general, has left him with more the image of the latter than the former. This has been to a large degree thanks to Skorzeny himself (i.e., thanks to his successful attempts at molding the historical narrative), Nazi propaganda and the image of news reels pumping up his military accomplishments. This biography clears up this picture (at least to a reasonable degree).
The book, in its coverage of his military career, makes clear that Skorzeny did play a role in many of the military actions that he has been famously associated with (i.e., Gran Sasso raid that liberated Mussolini, his role in commando operations in the Ardennes offensive) as well as lesser known actions (i.e., anti-partisan activities in Yugoslavia, covert activities against the Danish resistance, anti-commando activities in France, actions in Hungary intended to keep that country on the side of Germany, etc.). The book makes clears that, contrary to his critics, he did not sit on the side-lines and do nothing but take credit for these actions. It shows that he was involved and did take significant risks that put his life in danger. It also shows that he did play a role, although in many cases not a predominate one, in both the planning and execution of these actions.
However, the book also points out quite well, that he did greatly embellish and magnify his role in these actions. Also, that the Nazi propaganda machine gave him the credit for much, during these actions, for the work of others. It does a good job at cutting the man's superman commando image down to a more realistic (and appropriate) size. It also does a good job at showing, contrary to the post-war image many had of him, of showing that he was not a purely (or even predominately) military figure as opposed to a hard-core believer in the Nazi creed as well as being vehemently anti-communist (something that the biography makes clear was the case even from his pre-military service life).
The book also covers, unlike the little available literature on him, his post-world war II life, predominately spent in Spain. There he did not spend time, contrary to what many believed, attempting to re-establish the far-right in Germany. It also shows that the he did play (or attempt to play) a role as middle man for numerous arms deals. These activities, however, were greatly superseded by his much more mundane role as a relatively successful businessman primarily in the fields of cement and construction.
Hence the book goes far in showing the real man behind the mask, something that the post-war period proved so unable to do.
The most in-depth biography on Skorzeny has, until now, been his own autobiography. Unfortunately that has been quite self-serving, not very truthful and very self-aggrandizing. There has been quite a bit of literature on the man since the war but most of that has been of a relatively short length (i.e., many magazine articles but few books) and has tended to present him as either a die-hard Nazi or, more commonly, as a superman-like commando. The post-war period, in general, has left him with more the image of the latter than the former. This has been to a large degree thanks to Skorzeny himself (i.e., thanks to his successful attempts at molding the historical narrative), Nazi propaganda and the image of news reels pumping up his military accomplishments. This biography clears up this picture (at least to a reasonable degree).
The book, in its coverage of his military career, makes clear that Skorzeny did play a role in many of the military actions that he has been famously associated with (i.e., Gran Sasso raid that liberated Mussolini, his role in commando operations in the Ardennes offensive) as well as lesser known actions (i.e., anti-partisan activities in Yugoslavia, covert activities against the Danish resistance, anti-commando activities in France, actions in Hungary intended to keep that country on the side of Germany, etc.). The book makes clears that, contrary to his critics, he did not sit on the side-lines and do nothing but take credit for these actions. It shows that he was involved and did take significant risks that put his life in danger. It also shows that he did play a role, although in many cases not a predominate one, in both the planning and execution of these actions.
However, the book also points out quite well, that he did greatly embellish and magnify his role in these actions. Also, that the Nazi propaganda machine gave him the credit for much, during these actions, for the work of others. It does a good job at cutting the man's superman commando image down to a more realistic (and appropriate) size. It also does a good job at showing, contrary to the post-war image many had of him, of showing that he was not a purely (or even predominately) military figure as opposed to a hard-core believer in the Nazi creed as well as being vehemently anti-communist (something that the biography makes clear was the case even from his pre-military service life).
The book also covers, unlike the little available literature on him, his post-world war II life, predominately spent in Spain. There he did not spend time, contrary to what many believed, attempting to re-establish the far-right in Germany. It also shows that the he did play (or attempt to play) a role as middle man for numerous arms deals. These activities, however, were greatly superseded by his much more mundane role as a relatively successful businessman primarily in the fields of cement and construction.
Hence the book goes far in showing the real man behind the mask, something that the post-war period proved so unable to do.
February 20, 2021
De tweede wereld oorlog, heel veel boeken over vol geschreven en toch is nog niet alles verteld. Wie speelden daar een grote rol in? Op daar verder een antwoordt op te vinden tijd voor het boek van Stuart Smith “Otto Skorzeny”- Hitlers favoriete commando.
Wie was deze man ? Otto Skorzeny was een Oostenrijkse SS-Standartenführer (Kolonel) der Waffen-SS gedurende de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Skorzeny werd geboren in een Oostenrijkse familie in de middenklasse met een Poolse achtergrond welke een lange traditie van militaire dienst had. Naast zijn moedertaal Duits sprak hij tevens uitstekend Engels en Frans. Tijdens zijn studie was hij een fervent mensuur-beoefenaar en gedurende het tiende van zijn in totaal dertien duels liep hij het litteken op dat hem de rest van zijn leven karakteriseerde. Na de invasie van Polen wilde hij zich aanmelden bij de Luftwaffe maar werd daar afgewezen omdat hij te lang (Skorzeny was 1.92m) en te oud geacht werd. Hierna meldde hij zich bij de Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler aan. Zijn eerste opdracht was Unternehmen Eiche, in september 1943. Hij bevrijdde met zijn eenheid op 12 september 1943 Benito Mussolini, die op de berg Gran Sasso door de regering Badoglio gevangen werd gehouden.
Daarna volgden Unternehmen François (het opzetten van partizanenoperaties in het door de geallieerden bezette Iran) en Unternehmen Weitsprung, waarbij zou getracht zijn de Geallieerde leiders (Jozef Stalin, Churchill en Roosevelt) te doden tijdens de Conferentie van Teheran in 1943. Omdat de NKVD het plan tijdig verijdeld zou hebben, zou Hitler de actie afgeblazen hebben. Achteraf is door historici geopperd dat alles vooral een fictieverhaal is. Skorzeny heeft na de oorlog wel bevestigd dat hij door Hitler hierover gecontacteerd werd, maar dat hij de Führer ervan kon overtuigen dat het onuitvoerbaar was. Er valt natuurlijk veel meer over deze man en zijn acties te vertellen. Maar daarvoor moet u het boek maar lezen. Dit was gewoon een korte bloemlezing wie deze man was.
Terug naar het boek : Het boek verteld uitgebreid over het leven deze meedogenloze man, van zijn vroege jeugd tot zijn laatste momenten. Je merkt dat de auteur een zeer goed research heeft gedaan en allemaal zeer goed uitgewerkt heeft. Hij weet goed onderscheidt te maken over de zogenaamde fictie en de non-fictie. Daarnaast maakt de auteur logische veronderstellingen over gebeurtenissen waar we weinig of geen documentatie van hebben.
De auteur belicht de tegenstrijdigheden van Skorzeny, een dappere en roekeloze man die weet wie hij aan zijn kant moet krijgen. Hij leek zijn eigen verhalen te geloven, en terwijl hij bezig was, laat hij andere mensen geloven dat hij veel meer macht en invloed heeft dan ooit tevoren. Skorzeny komt over als een echte racistische nazi. Tot voor kort had ik nog nooit gehoord van deze man. Dit boek is dan ook welkome aanvulling op de algemene/ geschiedenis kennis.
Een fascinerende biografie van een man : egoïstisch, opbeurend en gelovend in zijn eigen egoïstische verhalen, ongeacht de waarheid. Zoals zovelen in WWII..
Wie was deze man ? Otto Skorzeny was een Oostenrijkse SS-Standartenführer (Kolonel) der Waffen-SS gedurende de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Skorzeny werd geboren in een Oostenrijkse familie in de middenklasse met een Poolse achtergrond welke een lange traditie van militaire dienst had. Naast zijn moedertaal Duits sprak hij tevens uitstekend Engels en Frans. Tijdens zijn studie was hij een fervent mensuur-beoefenaar en gedurende het tiende van zijn in totaal dertien duels liep hij het litteken op dat hem de rest van zijn leven karakteriseerde. Na de invasie van Polen wilde hij zich aanmelden bij de Luftwaffe maar werd daar afgewezen omdat hij te lang (Skorzeny was 1.92m) en te oud geacht werd. Hierna meldde hij zich bij de Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler aan. Zijn eerste opdracht was Unternehmen Eiche, in september 1943. Hij bevrijdde met zijn eenheid op 12 september 1943 Benito Mussolini, die op de berg Gran Sasso door de regering Badoglio gevangen werd gehouden.
Daarna volgden Unternehmen François (het opzetten van partizanenoperaties in het door de geallieerden bezette Iran) en Unternehmen Weitsprung, waarbij zou getracht zijn de Geallieerde leiders (Jozef Stalin, Churchill en Roosevelt) te doden tijdens de Conferentie van Teheran in 1943. Omdat de NKVD het plan tijdig verijdeld zou hebben, zou Hitler de actie afgeblazen hebben. Achteraf is door historici geopperd dat alles vooral een fictieverhaal is. Skorzeny heeft na de oorlog wel bevestigd dat hij door Hitler hierover gecontacteerd werd, maar dat hij de Führer ervan kon overtuigen dat het onuitvoerbaar was. Er valt natuurlijk veel meer over deze man en zijn acties te vertellen. Maar daarvoor moet u het boek maar lezen. Dit was gewoon een korte bloemlezing wie deze man was.
Terug naar het boek : Het boek verteld uitgebreid over het leven deze meedogenloze man, van zijn vroege jeugd tot zijn laatste momenten. Je merkt dat de auteur een zeer goed research heeft gedaan en allemaal zeer goed uitgewerkt heeft. Hij weet goed onderscheidt te maken over de zogenaamde fictie en de non-fictie. Daarnaast maakt de auteur logische veronderstellingen over gebeurtenissen waar we weinig of geen documentatie van hebben.
De auteur belicht de tegenstrijdigheden van Skorzeny, een dappere en roekeloze man die weet wie hij aan zijn kant moet krijgen. Hij leek zijn eigen verhalen te geloven, en terwijl hij bezig was, laat hij andere mensen geloven dat hij veel meer macht en invloed heeft dan ooit tevoren. Skorzeny komt over als een echte racistische nazi. Tot voor kort had ik nog nooit gehoord van deze man. Dit boek is dan ook welkome aanvulling op de algemene/ geschiedenis kennis.
Een fascinerende biografie van een man : egoïstisch, opbeurend en gelovend in zijn eigen egoïstische verhalen, ongeacht de waarheid. Zoals zovelen in WWII..
October 1, 2018
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Otto Skorzeny: The Devil’s Disciple by Stuart Smith is a biography of “Hitler’s favorite commando”, a man who became a legend in his lifetime, but almost forgotten these days.
Throughout my reading on World War II I have yet to encounter the name of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, either that or he was mentioned in a passing paragraph. When Otto Skorzeny: The Devil’s Disciple by Stuart Smith popped up in front of me it sounded too interesting to pass up.
I was right.
Skorzeny is a character which even the most brilliant minds in Hollywood would have a tough time coming up with. A man who is as good in self-promotion as he is I soldiering, not afraid to steal other men’s credit to enhance his legacy, but can also “walk the walk” when necessary.
It seems that along with guts, Skorzeny was blessed with charm, and not small amounts of chutzpah. As an Austrian, he also managed to get on the right side of Hitler, to the chagrin of other dutiful Nazis. Even though he was trained as a mechanical engineer, Skorzeny was found he had an aptitude for networking, and a strong liking of the limelight.
As a commando, he has managed to be front and center when rescuing Mussolini and discovered that he and the camera had a mutual liking. An impressive, hulking man with sword dueling scars on his cheek, he seemed to embody the myth he was building for himself.
The author doesn’t buy the self-serving stories though. This biography cuts through the aspects of Skorzeny’s life separating fact from fiction, making logical assumptions about events which we have little, or no, documentation of.
The author highlights Skorzeny’s contradictions, a brave and reckless man who knows who to get on his side, but yet a terrible judge of character. He seemed to believe his own stories, and while at it, make other people believe he has much more power and influence than he ever did. A racist Nazi who actually believed the racial superiority nonsense, but when push came to shove worked with the Israeli Mossad.
It’s surprising that I’ve never heard of this man, a legend then, and it appears now as well since much of the Special Forces methodology today is based on his methods. A fascinating biography of a man which has much in common with today’s politicians, self-serving, aggrandizing, and believing their own self-serving stories, regardless of the truth.
Otto Skorzeny: The Devil’s Disciple by Stuart Smith is a biography of “Hitler’s favorite commando”, a man who became a legend in his lifetime, but almost forgotten these days.
Throughout my reading on World War II I have yet to encounter the name of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, either that or he was mentioned in a passing paragraph. When Otto Skorzeny: The Devil’s Disciple by Stuart Smith popped up in front of me it sounded too interesting to pass up.
I was right.
Skorzeny is a character which even the most brilliant minds in Hollywood would have a tough time coming up with. A man who is as good in self-promotion as he is I soldiering, not afraid to steal other men’s credit to enhance his legacy, but can also “walk the walk” when necessary.
It seems that along with guts, Skorzeny was blessed with charm, and not small amounts of chutzpah. As an Austrian, he also managed to get on the right side of Hitler, to the chagrin of other dutiful Nazis. Even though he was trained as a mechanical engineer, Skorzeny was found he had an aptitude for networking, and a strong liking of the limelight.
As a commando, he has managed to be front and center when rescuing Mussolini and discovered that he and the camera had a mutual liking. An impressive, hulking man with sword dueling scars on his cheek, he seemed to embody the myth he was building for himself.
The author doesn’t buy the self-serving stories though. This biography cuts through the aspects of Skorzeny’s life separating fact from fiction, making logical assumptions about events which we have little, or no, documentation of.
The author highlights Skorzeny’s contradictions, a brave and reckless man who knows who to get on his side, but yet a terrible judge of character. He seemed to believe his own stories, and while at it, make other people believe he has much more power and influence than he ever did. A racist Nazi who actually believed the racial superiority nonsense, but when push came to shove worked with the Israeli Mossad.
It’s surprising that I’ve never heard of this man, a legend then, and it appears now as well since much of the Special Forces methodology today is based on his methods. A fascinating biography of a man which has much in common with today’s politicians, self-serving, aggrandizing, and believing their own self-serving stories, regardless of the truth.
May 26, 2023
This is an excellent updated study of SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, who was once known as the 'most dangerous man in Europe.' Unlike most of the other books I have read about him and his well-known exploits during World War Two, Stuart Smith goes beyond the myth and exposes Skorzeny as an opportunist who took too much credit for missions like the Gran Sasso raid and Operation Greif, a pattern that continued after the war thanks to his self-publicity and the various authors who wrote about him over the years.
Smith discloses more elaborate infomation on Skorzeny's post war years, which were characterised by endless stories of his alledged involvement in clandestine activities across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
In short, Smith gives the reader a different perspective of what has been known of Hitler's favourite commando.
Smith discloses more elaborate infomation on Skorzeny's post war years, which were characterised by endless stories of his alledged involvement in clandestine activities across Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
In short, Smith gives the reader a different perspective of what has been known of Hitler's favourite commando.
May 20, 2019
I always enjoy histories which carefully dissect myths to reveal the nuanced truth underneath.
This book stands out in the sense that Stuart Smith actively assists the reader to think for themselves and make a careful appreciation of the key missions which built Skorzeny's reputation.
Skorzeny is a household name in the annals of special forces operations, but I came away feeling I had seen a whole new dimension to the story.
This book stands out in the sense that Stuart Smith actively assists the reader to think for themselves and make a careful appreciation of the key missions which built Skorzeny's reputation.
Skorzeny is a household name in the annals of special forces operations, but I came away feeling I had seen a whole new dimension to the story.
December 9, 2023
A copy-and-paste job. The basic history is covered, however, the author, whose works include wandering around Lutons pubs, has produced a fairly scrappy account of an infamous Commando leader.
The Amazon book description includes a comment about the US Navy SEAL raid in 2011. Not sure what relevance that has.
So, I gave it 3 stars, being a fan of WW2 history accounted for that.
" My Commando Operations" by the man himself is more telling. The reader can perfectly sift out what is relevant and /or true.
The Amazon book description includes a comment about the US Navy SEAL raid in 2011. Not sure what relevance that has.
So, I gave it 3 stars, being a fan of WW2 history accounted for that.
" My Commando Operations" by the man himself is more telling. The reader can perfectly sift out what is relevant and /or true.
October 1, 2018
Otto Skorzeny: The Devil’s Disciple is an interesting book. The author definitely did his research. I give it five stars.
January 26, 2021
Rather disappointing, primarily because Skorzeny was mostly a blowhard who played a major role only in his own mind.
August 9, 2021
Ik vond het erg boeiend, wat een boef, opportunisme zonder geweten
September 3, 2021
Weer wat nieuwe feiten gelezen.
Soms ietwat teveel uitgediept.
Soms ietwat teveel uitgediept.
May 9, 2022
Superb storytelling. A tour-de-force of the man behind the myth.
February 3, 2025
Soooo boring
June 7, 2025
The story seems unbelievable. Strangely, the AI voice that read this seemed real
June 28, 2019
Minulla oli ennakkoluuloja tämän kirjan suhteen, mutta jo alkusivuista lähtien totesin niiden olleen vääriä. Stuart Smith kirjoittaa vetävästi ja hän onnistuu väistämään Skorzenyn ja lehdistön luoman sädekehän SS-kommandon elämästä. Smith sanoo suoraan, jos lähteitä ei ole, mutta on epäiltävä Skorzenyn omaa tarinaa. Osa tapahtumista oli tuttuja, mutta kyllä kirjasta löytyi paljon uutta tietoa. Sodan jälkeinen osuus oli etenkin uutta tietoa. Pisteet 8,5/10.
February 19, 2020
An interesting, if occasionally dry, book which casts a light on a less well known side of the second world war. The Mussolini rescue is well covered in other sources; but the investigation and writing on the less well covered nazi special forces and intelligence agencies is something new. This goes a long way towards making this a book worth reading for students of the period.
June 4, 2025
Huolellisesti taustoitettu kirja toisen maailmansodan legendaarisesta sotilaasta, SS-joukoissa palvelleesta Otto Skorzenystä. Kirja purkaa Skorzeny-myyttejä ja paljastaa, kuinka karismaattinen ja liioitteluun taipuvainen Skorzeny rakensi myyttisen maineensa Saksan propagandakoneiston suosiollisella avustuksella.
April 18, 2019
When I completed my Robin Sage our instructors on multiple occasions alluded to his escapades
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews