Posted by
The Chopping Block on Friday, July 25, 2008 5:55:35 PM
In October of 1944, as Hitler was planning his breakout to Antwerp--his last ditch effort to defeat the allied forces--his main problem was how to secure the bridges between Ardennes and Antwerp. To this end, he called upon one of the most dangerous men in Europe, SS Lt Col Otto Skorzeny. Hitler told Skorzeny that he wanted to paralyze the allies long enough to finish developing his terrible weapons that he planned to use against the Allies and therefore win the war.
Hitler ordered Skorzeny to organize and train 3000 loyal brave men to infiltrate the Allied lines and, dressed in American Army uniforms, disrupt the Allied reaction to the German push through the Ardennes. These men would act as spies, saboteurs and spreaders of demoralization. They were to seize and hold the bridges over the Meuse for the main body to cross.
Within two months, Skorzeny’s men were ready. He had taught them how to act American, how to open a pack of cigarettes the American way, how to swear, and how to act “un-militarily”—no heel clicking when coming to attention. They then brazenly entered the American lines with stolen American jeeps and began their secret operation to disrupt and destroy.
There is enough recorded history to show that these men were successful in their operation, directing convoys the wrong way, spreading rumors and lies to demoralize the American GI, even causing Eisenhower’s staff to seclude him for ten days against the possibility of assassination.
In the end, however, the whole operation became known to American leadership and the Americans searched everyone they were suspicious of. Some of Skorzeny’s men were killed in battle and some were captured. It is not know how many were killed in battle but we do know what happened to 130 of them that were captured and imprisoned. On Dec 22, 1944, all 130 were brought before First Army tribunal and found guilty of “violating the laws of war in wearing the enemy’s uniform behind his lines to deceive and commit espionage and sabotage.” All 130 were executed by firing squad after the trial.
That’s how you deal with the enemy within your borders.