Overview

The secret war of Germany's elite commandos - a gripping account of sabotage, espionage, and survival in World War Two. For readers of James Owen, Peter Young, James Lucas and Franz Kurowski. The SS Kommandos and their forerunners, the Brandenburgers - led by Admiral Canaris and later Otto Skorzeny - fought their war in the shadows of Europe for six years. During this time, they battled and plotted behind enemy lines across three continents and dozens of countries. Their clandestine activities undoubtedly changed the course of history. Often overlooked in favour of the perhaps better-known British Special Forces or American Rangers, the Kommandos were, in fact, the first military units to embrace and utilise such an unconventional style of warfare. In this book, author Charles Whiting presents a thorough account of the men and the operations they undertook during the war years, using first-hand interviews with the remaining survivors - including Skorzeny himself. The result is a vivid, personal account of ordinary men, both heroes and victims of the German war machine, engaged in a deadly struggle for survival. The daring and complexity of some of the SS Kommando operations is truly staggering and includes the 1943 rescue of deposed dictator Benito Mussolini from under the noses of the Italians in the mountains; the 1944 kidnapping of the son of the Regent of Hungary to keep that country in the war against the Allies; and the theft of a large quantity of diamonds in South Africa to sabotage Britain's war effort. Brutally efficient and often disregarding the rules of war, these men seized strategic targets, captured key bridges, engaged in espionage and sabotage, and would ultimately influence the development of special forces around the world. This book is a compelling read for anyone interested in Kommando operations throughout World War Two - the men involved, their leaders and rivals under the Führer, and the desperate tactics employed in the face of defeat.

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