Otto Skorzeny and the real conduct of Unternehmen Eiche and Unternehmen Panzerfaust

dc.contributor.advisorArquilla, John
dc.contributor.advisorAbenheim, Donald
dc.contributor.authorHandschuh, Andreas Alexander
dc.contributor.departmentDefense Analysis (DA)
dc.dateDec-17
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-07T20:37:35Z
dc.date.available2018-02-07T20:37:35Z
dc.date.issued2017-12
dc.description.abstractOtto Skorzeny, an Austrian SS-member during World War II, is still today famous for his conduct of German special operations. His legacy continues to influence military theorists and historians because of the success of those operations. Among Skorzeny's most recognizable missions, it was the spectacular liberation of Mussolini in 1943 that also launched his career in the conduct of German special operations. To answer the question about Skorzeny's real role in German special operations, this thesis surveys Unternehmen Eiche, the German rescue operation for Mussolini and Unternehmen Panzerfaust, which targeted the Hungarian Regent Horthy to resign. Therefore, primary and secondary sources and memoirs of witnesses, who were part of these operations, are compared to Skorzeny's memoirs, which were often used as primary sources in literature about German special operations during World War II. The results show that although Skorzeny had in both operations a primary supporting and significant strategic impact on several levels, discrepancies exist within the historical accounts. Furthermore, the impact of German propaganda and Otto Skorzeny's autobiographical books have bolstered his fame even to the present day. Thus, if academia refer primarily to Skorzeny's memoirs, they may draw an unrealistic picture of his role in the development of German WWII special operations. Moreover, other Skorzeny-conducted operations should be studied more in depth to further develop the thesis' findings.en_US
dc.description.distributionstatementApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
dc.description.serviceLieutenant Colonel, German Armyen_US
dc.description.urihttp://archive.org/details/ottoskorzenyndre1094556935
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10945/56935
dc.publisherMonterey, California: Naval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is reserved by the copyright owner.en_US
dc.subject.authorOtto Skorzenyen_US
dc.subject.authorUnternehmen Eicheen_US
dc.subject.authorOperation Oaken_US
dc.subject.authorUnternehmen Panzerfausten_US
dc.subject.authorMussolinien_US
dc.subject.authorHorthyen_US
dc.subject.authorSpecial Operationsen_US
dc.subject.authorWorld War IIen_US
dc.subject.authorGran Sassoen_US
dc.subject.authorBudapesten_US
dc.subject.authorKurt Studenten_US
dc.subject.authorHarald Morsen_US
dc.subject.authorpropagandaen_US
dc.titleOtto Skorzeny and the real conduct of Unternehmen Eiche and Unternehmen Panzerfausten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dspace.entity.typePublication
etd.thesisdegree.disciplineDefense Analysisen_US
etd.thesisdegree.grantorNaval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
etd.thesisdegree.levelMastersen_US
etd.thesisdegree.nameMaster of Science in Defense Analysisen_US
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