Otto Skorzeny cover art

Otto Skorzeny

The Devil’s Disciple

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Otto Skorzeny

By: Stuart Smith
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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About this listen

SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny became a legend in his own time. "Hitler's favorite commando" acquired a reputation as a man of daring, renowned for his audacious 1943 mission to extricate Mussolini from a mountain-top prison. He could be brave and resourceful, but was also a notorious egoist and an unrepentant Nazi until the end of his life.

Stuart Smith draws on years of in-depth research to uncover the truth about Skorzeny's career and complex personality. From his background as a student radical in Vienna to his bloody service with the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front, and from his surprise rebirth as a commando to his intriguing post-war career and mysterious fortune, this book tells Otto Skorzeny's story in full-warts and all-for the first time.

©2018 Stuart Smith (P)2018 Tantor 20th Century Armed Forces Military Modern Politicians Politics & Activism Special & Elite Forces World War

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All stars
Most relevant  
Good performance, good story on the life of the man and his exploits and his nature.

Very interesting

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The basic history is covered, however, the author, whose works include wandering around the pubs of Luton, has produced a fairly scrappy account of an infamous Commando leader.
The Amazon book description includes a remark about the US Navy SEAL raid in 2011. I am 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.

A copy and paste job

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An interesting and open biography of the Nazi Commando in WW2 and beyond! A larger than life character, who's storylines exceeded the actual deeds done. More interesting than just his WW2 exploits were his story post-WW2 and the apparent concern that made of him in actions true or purported attached to his name!
Had he fought for the Allies, he'd of most possibly become a hero like David Sterling but instead he was a ardent German Nazi to his death.

The Devil's Commando...

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Decent book though you eventually feel Skorzeny was a product of his own self aggrandisement. Disappointingly vague in its coverage of his links to postwar nasi escape networks it shows what a thoroughly vile and unrepentant nazi he was till the end of his life.

decent listen despite an objectionable protaganist

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Great descriptions of a notable events, told in a unbiased way to give a good overall picture of the man. Well worth a listen.

Brilliant book

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Covers his military career well but you never get to meet the man.
Well read.

Fascinating but incomplete

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Excellently researched, detailed, and yet highly listenable. The author has no stars in his eyes about Skorzeny, despite the commando's obvious charisma. Equally importantly, the book pullls no punches with Nazi injustices and crimes, nor, importantly, does it shy from discussing obvious Allied crimes including torture of prisoners and unjustificed war crimes convictions. Well read and captivating.

For once a well balanced biography of an SS man

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The author spent every ounce of the content trying to put down Skorzeny, which would not be required if he stuck to relaying facts and pulled himself away from ceasesly dropping nasty little opinions. Often, the author immediately has to contradict his opinion / moan with a fact that counters his narrative.

The author even finds time to throw a snipe in against the design of a Kubelwagon when he feels the need to relay the superiority of a Jeeps 4x4.

Please all read / listen to Eric Hartmann's (no fan of the Third Reich's hierachy) description of the immediate aftermath of the Fall of Berlin to guage that there may be another angle than the author's of this piece on how people in the East were prepared to fight to the last against Stalin. (German Aces Speak ll).

Spoilt by the authors inderlying mission

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Disappointing. Considering the subject matter, one Otto Skorzeny, I was keen to learn more of this outstanding soldier. But alas it is clear early on that the author has his own agenda. Clearly no fan of Skorzeny he continually puts the man down and gives him little if any credit for anything. One wonders why he wrote the book.
Death before Dishonour.

Feelings not facts.

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