Gran Sasso raidThe Gran Sasso raid refers to Operation Eiche (German for “Oak”), the rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini by German paratroopers led by Major OttoHarald Mors and Waffen-SS commandos in September 1943, during World War II. The airborne operation was personally ordered by Adolf Hitler, planned by Harald Mors, and approved by General Kurt Student. 1 tors (first to Ponza, then to La Maddalena, both small islands in the Tyrrhenian sea), whilst Otto Skorzeny— selected personally by Hitler and Ernst Kaltenbrunner to carry out the mission—was tracking him. Intercepting a coded Italian radio message, Skorzeny used the reconnaissance provided by the agents and informants of SS-Obersturmbannführer Herbert Kappler to determine that Mussolini was being imprisoned at Campo Imperatore Hotel, a ski resort at Campo Imperatore in Italy’s Gran Sasso massif, high in the Apennine Mountains. On 12 September 1943, Skorzeny joined the team of Fallschirmjäger to rescue Mussolini in a highrisk glider mission. The commandos landed their DFS 230 gliders on the mountain; only one crashed, causing minor injuries. The Fallschirmjäger and Skorzeny’s special troopers then overwhelmed Mussolini’s captors (200 well-equipped Carabinieri guards) without a single shot being fired; this was also due to the fact that General Fernando Soleti of Polizia, who flew in with Skorzeny, told them to stand down or be executed for treason. Skorzeny attacked the radio operator and his equipment, then he formally greeted Mussolini with “Duce, the Führer has sent me to set you free!", to which Mussolini replied “I knew that my friend would not forsake me!"[3] Overview On the night between 24 and 25 July 1943, a few weeks after the Allied invasion of Sicily and bombing of Rome, the Italian Grand Council of Fascism voted a motion of no confidence (Ordine del Giorno Grandi) against Mussolini. On the same day, the king replaced him with Marshal Pietro Badoglio[1] and had him arrested.[2] Campo Imperatore Hotel in 1943 The actual Storch used to rescue Mussolini Mussolini was first flown from Campo Imperatore in a Luftwaffe Fieseler Fi 156C-3/Trop Storch STOL liaison aircraft, Werknummer (serial number) 1268,[4] initially flown in by Hauptmann Heinrich Gerlach (1912— 1993),[5] then taking off with Mussolini and Skorzeny (even though the weight of an extra passenger almost caused the tiny plane to crash) to the military airport of Pratica di Mare (near Rome) then embarked in an Campo Imperatore in 2008 Heinkel He 111 on to Vienna, where Mussolini stayed Mussolini was being transported around Italy by his cap- overnight at the Hotel Imperial and was given a hero’s wel1 The hotel maintains Mussolini’s bedroom just as it was when he left it. Hauptmann. General der Fallschirmtruppe. Kurt. V. Oberleutnant. b.1 Knight’s Cross (4) • Student. all Fallschirmjäger (German air force paratroop) officers.JägLehr.. 3. Flieger-Korps [pilot Fieseler Storch (Fi 156)] • Meyer.1943. Winston Churchill himself described the mission as “one of great daring”. with the same furnishings. Otto. Otto Skorzeny gained a large amount of success from this mission. III.09. 1 November 1943. Heinrich. right in front of the cameras. but Skorzeny stewarded the Italian leader first into Rome and eventually into Berlin. 13.1943./Fsch. G. Chef 1. SS-Hauptsturmführer d./LL-Geschw 1 Mussolini leaving the Hotel The operation granted a rare late-war public relations opportunity to Hermann Göring./Fsch. four were awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and nine were awarded the German Cross in Gold.11.Jäg. Flieger-Korps [LL-Korps] • Skorzeny. commanded by Major Otto-Harald Mors and under orders from General Kurt Student. Georg. he received a promotion to Sturmbannführer. The Friedenthaler of the SS-Reichssicherheitshauptamt were for the Waffen-SS what the Brandenburgers were for that led to his “most dangerous man in Europe” image. Mussolini was made leader of the Italian Social Republic (a German puppet state consisting of the German-occupied portion of Italy). of “SJ + LL”[6] in motion picture coverage of the rescue. Flugzeugführer beim K. The most of them were awarded the Iron Cross (EK I or EK II).Jäg.09. 17. The Storch involved in rescuing Mussolini bore the radio code letters.Btl] . R. XI.Rgt 7 [1. or Stammkennzeichen. “Friedenthal”) of the Waffen-SS Berlin celebration of the troops under the command of Skorzeny were granted the majority of the credit for the operation. Skorzeny and his Special Forces (SSSonderverband z.09. Leutnant (Kr.1943. V. Friedenthal • Gerlach.Rgt 7 [Fsch. EL/Oak Leaves).. The operation on the ground at Campo Imperatore was in fact led by First Lieutenant Baron Georg Freiherr von Berlepsch. After a pro-SS propaganda coup at the behest of SS Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. K. 19. Kdr SS-Sonderverband z. that rescued Mussolini. 2 Aftermath The Campo Imperatore Hotel still exists.2 3 AWARDS come. . XI. d.2 German Cross in Gold (9) • Freiherr von Berlepsch. Major I.) Pilot eines Lastenseglers i. the Wehrmacht and Abwehr. G. G.Btl] • Mors.Jäg-Lehr. 27 September 1943 (305./Fsch. Kdr I. the award of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and fame 3. Elimar. Otto-Harald.1943.O. 01. b.[7] 3 Awards Almost all of the members of the operation received an award. SS-Sonderverband z. ISBN 88-04-48860-3. Ic XI.]/LL-Geschw 1 • Neelmeyer. Pilot eines Lastenseglers i.[III. b.[III. 31 March 2011. V. Manchester University Press. Friedenthal • Holzer. Mondadori. • Patricelli. Le Scie (in Italian). ed.]/LLGeschw 1 • Neitzel. Gerhard. Unteroffizier. “In bed with Mussolini”. LEMB.Nr. [2] Annussek. Axis Europa Inc (1991). Pearson Longman. The Age of the Dictators: A Study of the European Dictatorships. The Guardian (London). Marco (2001). Retrieved 22 October 2011. Oscar. Osprey Publishing. 15 September 1943. 12. SJ+LL — Fieseler — Fi156C3/Trop — W. 6 Further reading • Gonzalez Lopez. 01. Hitler’s Raid to Save Mussolini. ISBN 978-0739408179 7 External links • Unique Photos Uncovered: Mussolini’s Rescue from Gran Sasso in September 1943 .09. Robert. 12. Gustav. [7] Kington. Hauptmann.]/LL-Geschw 1 • Thielmann. Staffelkapitän 12. Heiner. Williamson (2007). Liberate il Duce.1268 — W.1268 — used on the liberation of Mussolini. Luftwaffe Experten Message Board.09. b. 26 September 1943.11. Fallschirmjager at the Gran Sasso: The Liberation of Mussolini by the German Parachutist on the 12th September 1943. Greg (2005). 26. The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database Project. V. 26. pp.1943. • Forczyk.3 • Langguth. SSUnterscharführer.Nr. Tom. SS-Sonderverband z. 18 May 2014. d. ISBN 978-0-582-50580-3. John (2005). Retrieved 22 May 2014. [3] D. SS.[III.1943. Retrieved 26 November 2012. d.1943. Johannes. 440–. d. then flown on to Vienna (where he stayed overnight at the Hotel Imperial) and given a hero’s welcome.Rottenführer.1943. Hans.]/LL-Geschw 1 • Lohrmann. Robert (2010). Osprey Raid Series #9. source B0001 has this wrong as SU+LL [5] Mussolini was first flown by Captain Heinrich Gerlach from Campo Imperatore in a Luftwaffe Fieseler Fi 156 Storch liaison aircraft. 26. Hans. Da Capo Press. [4] “stamm Sx+xx”. Oberleutnant. ISBN 978-0-306-81396-2. Oberfeldwebel. Pilot eines Lastenseglers i. 15 September 1943. Feldwebel. [6] “The LEMB Stammkennzeichen Database Project -"S” Codes (stkz-Sx+xx)". Pilot eines Lastenseglers i. Friedenthal 4 See also • SS-Jagdverband Mitte • Brandenburgers • Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts 5 References [1] Whittam.[III. ISBN 978-1-84603-462-6 • Antonio Munoz: Forgotten Legions: Obscure Combat Formations of the Waffen-SS. ISBN 0-7190-4004-3. G. Flieger-Korps [Verbandsführer/flight leader] • Heidenreich.09. Rescuing Mussolini – Gran Sasso 1943. 12. Fascist Italy. 1918-53. _Mussolini_mit_deutschen_Fallschirmjägern. TheJJJunk. Desertus Sagittarius. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive.org/wikipedia/ commons/c/c1/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J15420%2C_Gran_Sasso%2C_Mussolini_vor_Hotel. Itai.0 de Contributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. LeinSora.wikimedia.3 Content license • Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 de Contributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive.0 de Contributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. Dodo19~enwiki. EmausBot. Klaus Iezzi and Anonymous: 52 8. Sus scrofa. DumZiBoT. GraemeLeggett.org/ wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J07989%2C_Berlin%2C_Sportpalast%2C_Waffen-SS-Angeh%C3%B6rige.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist: Tkgd2007 8. DagosNavy.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0 de Contributors: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. TheGoodBadWorst. HerkusMonte. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive).org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-567-1503A-07%2C_Gran_Sasso%2C_Mussolini_ mit_deutschen_Fallschirmj%C3%A4gern. AND LICENSES 8 Text and image sources. and licenses 8.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3. Jmcc150. DOHC Holiday. Lacatosias. Helpful Pixie Bot.org/ wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-567-1503A-05%2C_Gran_Sasso%2C_Hotel_Campo_Imperatore. CmdrObot. LTCjsladack. Dl2000. BreakfastJr. Benbor. AndyFielding. Ichabod.wikimedia. resp. Difference engine.0 .wikimedia. Stor stark7. Thijs!bot. Distinctx. KevinOKeeffe. Hyperboreer.org/wikipedia/en/4/4a/Commons-logo. contributors. ABot. ZéroBot. Carlson288. DexDor.jpg Source: https://upload. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive).org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new. Ardfern.1 Text • Gran Sasso raid Source: https://en. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive). CONTRIBUTORS. Luckas-bot.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3. • File:Campo_Imperatore_04(RaBoe). Oberiko.jpg Source: https://upload. Maxbe~enwiki. The PIPE. Writtenright.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia. Tedcopy.org/wiki/Gran_Sasso_raid?oldid=663268003 Contributors: Zippy.svg License: ? Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Question_book-new. Codex Sinaiticus. 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Original artist: Toni Schneiders • File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-567-1503A-07. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive. Based on Image:Question book. Willbellum. JackieBot. Ekki01. resp.wikimedia. MystBot.0 Contributors: selbst fotografiert SP-550 UZ Original artist: Ra Boe • File:Commons-logo. Sam Sailor.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.2 Images • File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-567-1503A-05. Tim!. Original artist: Toni Schneiders • File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-567-1503C-04. Doczilla. AnomieBOT. Rock4arolla._Fieseler_Fi_156_»Storch«. Hardy1956. Addbot. Wood Thrush._Gran_Sasso.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3. Catsmeat. Denniss. Michael Dorosh. Shem1805. Barnej. Original artist: Toni Schneiders • File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J07989. Father Goose. Civa61. resp. Dominic. Bruno v. Gump Stump.wikimedia. resp._Berlin._Gran_Sasso.wikipedia. 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