Waffen-SS special operations commander Otto Skorzeny, at one point known as the most dangerous man in Europe, became one of the Israeli Mossad’s "most valuable assets". That is the assertion in the most amazing WWII story to be published in a serious newspaper in a long, long time.
The article "The Strange Case of a Nazi Who Became an Israeli Hitman" was published yesterday in Haaretz and reads almost like a Hollywood script. The newspaper and writers behind the article force one to take the story seriously in spite of how unlikely it sounds. But, what should the next steps be? Because, considering just who Skorzeny was, more commentary is necessary, and then some documents. Who to call? Well, aside from German historians I would recommend the Swedish author and journalist Niclas Sennerteg. He has recently written a most impressive book about Third Reich officers and scientists in the service of postwar Egypt: Hakkorset & halvmånen, in English it would be "The Swastika & The Crescent". My first take is that what Sennerteg has written about the disappearance of the German rocket scientist Heinz Krug and also about Skorzeny make parts of the new story not that hard to accept, but I would especially like to see more about Skorzeny himself shooting Krug.
My interest in Skorzeny goes back many years. Right here and now I will reveal that in a coming book of mine (out next year, I reckon) there will be a chapter about a Swede who opposed Skorzeny´s unit during the Battle of the Bulge.
Hi, Lars!
ReplyDeleteI just publish my book about Skorzeny - http://ww2books.blogspot.ru/2014/04/1.html
Hi Konstantin,
ReplyDeleteThe Russian language is no problem for some readers of this blog but for others not that easy. So, will your book be translated?
ReplyDeleteMossad used one Nazi against another as a defense against Nazis working for Nasser's genocidal missile program - after all still on Mossad's hit list
Reading D. Orbach's blog for years one knows he is a radical lefty and biased trying to describe it all in a negative light. However, this is an excerpt of Ofer Aderet's piece which should be stressed about Mossad using Nazis against other Nazis such as working in (racist-pan-Arab regime) Egypt on a genocidal missile program, but still not avoiding deaths from Mossad after all:
"Rauff... agreed to become an Israeli agent in Egypt, ..At the same time, the service he did Israel did not accord him immunity: In 1980, a Mossad team was sent to assassinate him. The squad planned to waylay him outside his house in Chile, where he had eventually settled down, but his wife started to shout and his dog barked. He died about a year later from cancer, entering the history books as a Nazi criminal who was both an agent of the Mossad and on its hit list...
Skorzeny....and was involved in various deals with German experts who were advisers in Egypt’s missile program..."
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Sure it's ugly, but when you think about the bigger picture, using one Nazi against another Nazi to defend yourself? How about that.
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In contrast, the [Egypt, then pan-Arab regime] Arabs employed some 200 ex Nazis against the Jews.
[https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/cgs/1967/10/26/01/article/42] Asides from the likes of terrible Alois Brunner and many others In Syria.
[https://newlinesmag.com/essays/swastikas-in-damascus]
_
[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/07/hitler-s-henchmen-in-arabia.html]
"What made the relationship between these former Nazis and the Egyptians and Syrians so successful was that it was a genuinely two-way deal. The Arabs offered the Nazis a haven, as well as a market for all their nefarious dealings in arms and black market currency. The Nazis, meanwhile, were able to provide technical and military experts, as well as the knowhow of establishing the instruments of repression.
However, below the back scratching lay a deep and dark underpinning to the relationship between the crescent and the swastika. That was, of course, a hatred of the Jews, and in particular, a desire to see the eradication of Israel."
ReplyDeleteMossad used one Nazi against another as a defense against Nazis working for Nasser's genocidal missile program - after all still on Mossad's hit list
Reading D. Orbach's blog for years one knows he is a radical lefty and biased trying to describe it all in a negative light. However, this is an excerpt of Ofer Aderet's piece which should be stressed about Mossad using Nazis against other Nazis such as working in (racist-pan-Arab regime) Egypt on a genocidal missile program, but still not avoiding deaths from Mossad after all:
"Rauff... agreed to become an Israeli agent in Egypt, ..At the same time, the service he did Israel did not accord him immunity: In 1980, a Mossad team was sent to assassinate him. The squad planned to waylay him outside his house in Chile, where he had eventually settled down, but his wife started to shout and his dog barked. He died about a year later from cancer, entering the history books as a Nazi criminal who was both an agent of the Mossad and on its hit list...
Skorzeny....and was involved in various deals with German experts who were advisers in Egypt’s missile program..."
__
Sure it's ugly, but when you think about the bigger picture, using one Nazi against another Nazi to defend yourself? How about that.
___
In contrast, the [Egypt, then pan-Arab regime] Arabs employed some 200 ex Nazis against the Jews.
[https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/cgs/1967/10/26/01/article/42] Asides from the likes of terrible Alois Brunner and many others In Syria.
[https://newlinesmag.com/essays/swastikas-in-damascus]
_
[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/07/hitler-s-henchmen-in-arabia.html]
"What made the relationship between these former Nazis and the Egyptians and Syrians so successful was that it was a genuinely two-way deal. The Arabs offered the Nazis a haven, as well as a market for all their nefarious dealings in arms and black market currency. The Nazis, meanwhile, were able to provide technical and military experts, as well as the knowhow of establishing the instruments of repression.
However, below the back scratching lay a deep and dark underpinning to the relationship between the crescent and the swastika. That was, of course, a hatred of the Jews, and in particular, a desire to see the eradication of Israel."