Otto Skorzeny: The Most Dangerous Man in Europe

Otto Skorzeny was born into a middle-class family in Vienna, Austria, on June 12, 1908. As a student he distinguished himself in scientific topics, and after graduating he enlisted at the University of Vienna as an engineering student. His great passion was fencing. He joined the University fencing team and during a match he received the prominent scar on his cheek, known in German as a ‘Schmiss’ which was then a coveted mark of bravery among German and Austrian youth.
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Arnaldo Teodorani
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Other Biographics Videos:
Robert Hanssen: The FBI Mole who Spied for the KGB
• Robert Hanssen: The FB...
Eugène Vidocq: The Father of Modern Criminology
• Eugène Vidocq: The Fat...
Source/Further reading:
Links for the description:
The HACKE report - www.cia.gov/library/readingro...
CIA FOIA Search page - www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/

[@Biographics]

Have you checked out my latest channel Business Blaze? It's interesting business stories with a dose of ridiculousness thrown in. Check it out here: kzbin.info/door/YY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgw

[@seanoshea6106]

Do a video on Friedrich Von Ribbentrop! He was killed at the Nuremberg trials for helping begin the war in Europe and ushering in the final solution. He was also my boss' great grandfather.

[@hddun]

Will you pay me to watch....I hear Bill Gates is worth $30 Billion so your new gig should pay people to watch then you get rich on the TV rights and revenue stream...

[@onkelwaldo39]

Sean O'Shea Don’t you mean Joachim von Ribbentrop?

[@seanoshea6106]

@@onkelwaldo39 I mean Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim Von Ribbentrop.

[@onkelwaldo39]

Sean O'Shea OK, same guy, then, the Nazi foreign minister, history usually mentions him by another of his first names - Joachim.

[@twingoliebhaber1873]

I actually have quite an interesting story from my grandfather about Skorzeny. When he was very young living in Vienna, I’m told my grandfather actually met Skorzeny in a café and they talked. My grandfather said something along the lines of: “Otto, if you are not going to be a special man in the future, I don’t know who is”. Skorzeny replied: “ Stop believing all the bs the people in the KZbin comment section write about supposed stories of their grandpa having met nazi war criminals.” End of the story…

[@DarthVader-ig6ci]

😂

[@KidDynamite6]

ya got me lol

[@smikkelbeer7890]

He truly was a man ahead of his time.

[@xcell_r4thr87]

You had us in the first half not gonna lie

[@sovietalt7489]

Wow, did that really happen? I didn't think they had KZbin or anything in the 1990s? And isn't Vienna in Paris, Germany is on the other side of the world

[@sirdabzmcgee]

This guy played WW2 on the hardest difficulty. How he managed to survive all those incidents is insane.

[@ottoskorzeny3439]

True ! It seems you know me well ! 😊

[@cdeschrevel5341]

And the most legendary part of your reaction is that WWII was only the first level of the game he was playing

[@MrMancreatedgod]

It's sad you can compare anything about ww2 to video game. Check yourself.

[@MrMancreatedgod]

@@ottoskorzeny3439 way to idolize a nazi for internet clout. 🙄

[@afgtwd8161]

@@MrMancreatedgod why?

[@LancasterResponding]

“WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!?” “Everyone.”

[@ThunderBunnyEsq]

It would be shorter if he made a list of those he didn't work for in Europe / Mediterranean.

[@HelmutVonZeche]

More like: Who do you work for? Otto Skorzeny: Yes.

[@cvek21]

For everyone haha,

[@robertbohnaker9898]

…It depends. Who’s winning ? 😂🤣😅

[@JamesHock]

"Who don't I work for?"

[@M4ruta]

Skorzeny being recruited by the Mossad is my favorite espionage story ever.

[@walterweiss7124]

you probably never heard of Krystyna Skarbek

[@M4ruta]

@@walterweiss7124 I had not, in fact. But judging from her wikipedia entry, she was a wicked piece of work herself. Thanks for the heads-up!

[@walterweiss7124]

@@M4ruta they say she was Fleming's inspiration for Bond

[@poo-tinthedwarfbunkerb1tch535]

@@walterweiss7124Except she wasn't...

[@black_hand78]

@@walterweiss7124 no they don’t lol. Flemings inspiration was Serbian Secret Service agent Dusko Popov. Many people also confuse Sir Christopher Lee with being Flemings inspiration but that just isn’t the case.

[@danilo16410]

Possibly "the more dangerous man", but surely "the most dynamic man." His life deserves a movie.

[@roeng1368]

Depends who would make the film, knowing Hollywood they would make a mess of it.

[@dalhousiekid]

@@roeng1368 Yes -- Brits should try it.

[@garyroberts3020]

Definitely..

[@jewcanboy]

Johnston Steiner calm down! You don’t need to mention “JEWISH reasons”. If it would be any other race they also probably wouldn’t make a movie about him due to obvious reasons. Hollywood makes movies about villains at times... perhaps a netflix documentary.

[@DevoGaming93]

Literally ending at his funeral, Nazis and Swastikas everywhere and there's Joe just like *otto ded*

[@tophatproductions3031]

You know Skorzeny was interesting by the fact that his SS career and WW2 is barely half the video.

[@philippvoid1800]

he did manage to kill half a million people in those few minutes thou

[@Saskmopar]

Fairly certain that Otto was pivotal in the CIA's psyop Phoenix Program during the Vietnam war. The Phoenix Program being the grandfather to tactics used by the CIA's torture program in the Middle East. He has also been implicated to be involved in NATO's stat behind army(s) to fight against Soviet encroachment, an operation known as Operation Gladio. And, if recall correctly, he was a pivotal character in the creation of the Green Berets and its operational procedures.

[@Saskmopar]

I should also note as an aside that Dick Cheney(and possibly Donald Rumsfeld, I'll have to double check that) was involved in the Phoenix Program. Many, many ties between Nazis and the Executive(ordered) alphabet agencies of the US.

[@joelbento3599]

@Nick with no last name he kind of was since he fucked up the latter leader because he didn't wanted to do it. but it's ok people doesn't need to be good to be interesting.

[@tristanburton3554]

If wss a American of German heritage and born in the modern era, he probably would have been a navy seal, lol.

[@syphon4671]

"So Otto, you participated in Barbarossa?" "Das Reich"

[@miriamllamas224]

😂😂😂

[@starwarsmaster]

Underrated comment

[@Helmets-hh7wo]

Das kapital

[@oscar_eslava_]

Here's a family anecqdote: my father met in person with Skorzeny when he was a boy. Skorzeny came several times to my granny's aunt home, in Madrid, for picking his wife, who went there for the testing of bespoke dressings sewed by them - they run a home-based tailoring business for posh ladies. My father is a tall man (1,85m) and was a tall teenager, but he claims to have been impressed by the imponent stature of this guy.

[@walterweiss7124]

1,85m might be tall for a sothern European, but not for a central European

[@oscar_eslava_]

@@walterweiss7124 Indeed. Especially in the 50's! I'm myself 1,89 and everytime I visit Germany I have a taste of what must feel for my fellow average spaniards around me when my head pops up in the subway train.

[@derdude8201]

I‘m 1,86m living in Germany. It’s not very tall here. 2m and more is tall...

[@dangster010]

I'm dutch 1,95m tall and there are lots of ppl here on the street that are taller or just as tall as me. We must be fucking giants over here

[@jonathonruane5060]

@@dangster010 I think I did hear that the Dutch are the tallest people on average, passed down from the Frisian people who were known for their height.

[@ImplodedAtom]

This dude makes James Bond look like Johnny English!

[@eddiesanchez1899]

Hans Willwiedermett Johnny English knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows... nothing

[@hddun]

Funny you mention James Bond. I remember the day the Bond movie Skyfall opened in theaters. I was thinking of going when Obama came on TV to say our SEALS had killed Osama Bin Laden. I thought damn this Bond guy kills low lifes while the REAL HEROES are killing Bin Laden most hated man in the world.

[@ImplodedAtom]

Love these replies! 😂

[@hddun]

@Hans Willwiedermett Dude, I remember a TV series where Bean played as a Captain (British) in the World War One...too funny--much satire--

[@jcrhea001]

@@hddun Skyfall came out a year and a half after Osama was killied.

[@sas2300]

I would agree he was very dangerous, he appears to have worked all sides with some of the most dangerous intelligence services in the world and yet still made it to old age. He was clearly a master of disinformation and was likely never killed because no one appears to know who he really worked for and also because he was likely a bit of a badass and not easy to kill.

[@Noobie2k7]

That and he avoided being killed by always being of use alive to somebody.

[@paulheap1982]

@@Noobie2k7 you basically said what he said, but simified.

[@laszlogman2545]

He was not killed because he had no flag, they respected what he did, he went after the Communist and the bad guys. Even though he was a Nazi.

[@davidsmithson865]

You have to admit that this guy never gave up! Smarter than the average bear, what a story!

[@thomasbrothers3857]

@John Galt lol might be one of the funniest comments Ive read

[@lunadomenico1049]

How on earth nobody never made a film about this man's life,it will be truly an epic.

[@puhpuh3037]

Nazism doesn't market very well.

[@pimplepickerton]

@@puhpuh3037 says who? I beg to differ.

[@johnmason1239]

The whole of Germany in WW2 when millions of disabled& minorities obviously”disappeared.” Are we the bad guys??? 😅🤦‍♂️😘

[@MatewanMassacre]

Especially, if we consider all of the Nazi sympathizers that inhabit, or have worked in, Hollywood. I'm shocked, too, that they have yet to make a film glorifying this scumbag.

[@Mshi-]

@@puhpuh3037who cares?

[@Braeden123698745]

CIA "Lets use a Nazi, he's not an ex-Nazi, still totally a Nazi, to kidnap the leader of a sovereign nation." JFK: "Yeah we're not gonna do that..."

[@paulbrancato7729]

Do you have a source for that? Serious question - I’m not dissing you.

[@rickmathews6044]

@NibiruLives i believe this either alone or a big conspiracy but they definitely played a part

[@mechadonia]

And then he got 360 noscoped by Oswald

[@FALslayer]

Operation Paperclip was formed by the CIC which invited and extracted high nazi officials to use them for their selfish capitalist gains. Look at Werner-von-bruan

[@Noobie2k7]

@@FALslayer I mean it's just smart practice really. You've already won the war, there's really no logical reason to not try to recruit as many of the most competent or intelligent members of the losing side. Yeah, this was often done in incredibly immoral or legally questionable ways but it's still just common sense. Plus in a lot of cases the Nazi's were just people loyal to their country doing a job and looking out for themselves. So once they lost there's no reason to not be allowed to continue doing what they've been doing just for someone else.

[@chrisd2051]

My friend: "Avengers is the most ambitious crossover event in history." Otto Skorzeny: "Hold my bier."

[@slick8038]

Mein bier

[@user-vp9zw8is3o]

Otto Skorzeny:"james - hol schon mal den wagen." oder wer immer da gespielt hat.

[@taomane3949]

Otto: Hold my bag of Jewish scalps

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

Weet nu gelijk dat je Nederlands bent. Bier.

[@SM-qo9gr]

@@slick8038 und Bratwurst

[@4BCJesus]

We need to get Otto Skorzeny on Joe Rogan.

[@cheknecht3092]

JR had Tim Kennedy on his show and he talked about Otto Skorzeny.

[@andrewmacdonnell4536]

Joe: Otto, bro, ever smoke DMT?

[@jduff59]

Good shout, I'd love to see it

[@owenedwards9807]

Hasn't he had enough Nazi sympathisers on his show?

[@BamaChad-W4CHD]

@@owenedwards9807 that's pointless to say. He has a huge variety of people on his show. He has the good and the bad. He is better than all mainstream media. At least he shows different sides of things instead of pushing one agenda down our throat. Well he does push the legalize pot thing very hard lol

[@sorcererberoll4641]

Ah the guy who couldn’t be put on trail without making the allies seem like humongous hypocrites

[@aickavon]

"YOU WORE ENEMY UNIFORMS!" "So... did... you?"

[@jamesavery3559]

did the same thing with karl doenitz.

[@wallykloubek4079]

The Americans executed several Germans for operating behind their lines in American uniforms...He and his men survived because their lawyers brought forth evidence that the allies had done the same....yes, hypocrites....cheers🍷🇨🇦

[@avamasquerade]

I genuinely don't understand how one person can simultaneously have dead eyes and also the eyes of someone who will never die....it's baffling...

[@pedobear497]

He didn‘t join the „fencing team“. He was in a Burschenschaft. These are German fraternities that practice fencing with sharp blades.

[@LuckGoodLuckLuckGoodLuck]

Exactly it was mensur

[@ThexVaultxTech]

He was in a fencing club, which in Germany used sharp swords instead of standard ones because they're German

[@pedobear497]

The Vault Tech Wrong.

[@platosfriend]

Nowadays a bunch of losers getting drunk in lederhosen. 😂

[@goprojoe7449]

The facial scar was often somewhat intentional as it was kind of a right of passage and a badge of masculinity

[@colterwall9481]

Gotta admit, that scar is badass.

[@skankhunt-zh8ky]

That's the first thing i thought lol

[@alexeajames4200]

Mr.Cleanydeezy And it makes him looks sexy AF... Nazi or not. Just saying 😈🤘

[@brendanaschaubine8180]

People still do this in Austria - it's the first sign someone is a nazi/Deutsch national. (most)girls don't think that's sexy

[@TheWolvesCurse]

back in the day a "schmiss" or more formally "rennomier schmiss" was a sing of a guy being good "wedding material" as it was a sign of higher education and manlyness.

[@tallthinkev]

But not as badass as the man who gave it to him

[@acerbicatheist2893]

It was Otto's paratroopers that were the inspiration for David Stirling to model the nascent SAS upon; mobile, skilled, and capable of improvisation around any basic plan with great flexibility to ensure success with a very small number of men. Skorzeny wasn't happy with the high profile he'd attained because it prevented him from getting proper medical care for the cancer that ultimately killed him. A most remarkable man and a most remarkable life.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

That's a bit confusing, as the SAS was formed in 1941 North Africa by the incredible David Stirling, and Otto's team not until 1943.

[@ToreDL87]

@@paigetomkinson1137 Yeah I'd sooner expect it to be the other way around.

[@fleetcenturion]

5:19 - It wasn't to steal anyone's thunder. Skorzeny says in his memoirs that had Mussolini somehow not made it back, he would have had to commit suicide. This is why he flew in the plane with Mussolini the entire way, even though it was only designed for one person.

[@paigetomkinson1137]

Inspite of the pilot telling him he couldn't fly with them because it would make the flight more dangerous with the extra weight? Interesting.

[@ARIXANDRE]

No joke or spoilers. This might be one of the most fascinating episodes in Biographics.

[@CaptainGyro]

I concur. Skorzeny was probably the inspiration for Nike's motto, "Just Do It".

[@gipsydanger7379]

You should read The Devils Disciple. It's a fantastic book on him. He was a fascinating character.

[@TechnoLion1]

Abbey Roadster **This might be one of he most fascinating episodes in Biographics**

[@Mr379789]

Actually, I was expecting smth more because of the fact that he was not very successful during the Nazi operations

[@friendlyatheist387]

Me: who do you work for? Otto: yes

[@moongoat7863]

how ironic im jobless, my name is otto, i had a hedgehog also named otto and you have a hedgehog as a pfp.... wtf

[@thomasbleming7539]

Otto Skorzeney was responsible for setting up the American special forces (a.k.a. "Green Berets"). President John F. Kennedy invited him to the White House and made the offer to him to set up a training school at Bad Toltz, West Germany 🇩🇪. The school was later moved to the United States at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where it remains to this very day.

[@Henry-zh2ci]

The Soviets helped spread a rumor that he was helping train them for operations in Vietnam but it was never confirmed. Also the green berets were founded in 1952 and the first time he worked with the US was in 1953

[@b.w.22]

After this guy was captured, my grandfather was tasked to interrogate him for the first time. According to my grandad, he was crazy intimidating in person.

[@Fors3s]

very true..

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

Your grandad came out of that room being the one who was interrogated

[@idontcareidontcare901]

Sure definitely believe you..😐

[@b.w.22]

@@idontcareidontcare901 - Well, you can look him up yourself. His name was Stuyvesant Wainwright II, was in the early OSS but later transferred to the intelligence section of the First Army which was a sort of front for his work on Project Ultra for which he was interviewed in Stephen Ambrose’s book “Ike’s Spies.” I wish he spoke more about his role in WW2 but he was reticent about it - to Ambrose he said it was down to how the US only restricted discussing specifics for like 20 years while the British had sworn him to secrecy forever with the joking(?) threat to cut off the balls of anyone who discussed any of it: Ultra was based around the use of actionable intelligence gotten from intercepted and decrypted Enigma transmissions. After he left the Army, he completed his studies at Yale Law and after that served for four terms in Congress representing New York’s 1st district. A little bio of him is maintained on Congress’ website. So yeah, that Skorzeny anecdote isn’t going to come up in a search, but he definitely wasn’t the sort to make up things. My sister seems to think he had Skorzeny’s belt around somewhere, but I never saw that. I was, however, taught to shoot with the Browning Hi-power he got of an SS officer he had to eliminate.

[@idontcareidontcare901]

@@b.w.22 where to search?

[@Ehsan793]

He most employed guy in europe.

[@nativeson3365]

😁😁 And also the most overworked guy

[@danialyousaf6456]

Johnny sins : "finally ! A worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary !"

[@konradhomiak3700]

Danial Yousaf congrats. Tonight you have captured the award of the best thing I’ve seen this week.

[@danialyousaf6456]

@@konradhomiak3700 thanks man.

[@Shareefhamida]

Lol!!!

[@trankt54155]

This man was in it for the thrill and survived until his old age.

[@renataostertag6051]

"Old age"?! He died at age 67! 67 is hardly old - it is middle-aged. "Old age" is when a person is over 90.

[@trankt54155]

@@renataostertag6051 That was mid 20th century......not 21st century 2021 mate...

[@renataostertag6051]

@@trankt54155 So? Back then people lived even longer because they did not have to deal with all this "modern" stress.

[@DogDogGodFog]

@@renataostertag6051 Dude living past 90 is rare even if nothing happens to you, too many old age complications to take into account

[@sinbad5715]

@@renataostertag6051 Even in 2021, the average lifespan is 70. He died 3 years before that. Life expectancy actually doesn't count accidents,suicide or any kind of deaths that arent natural. If you were to count every death and see the average atleast most people die before 45. Living till 67 is an incridible achievement

[@primecoconut4204]

I bet this guy lectures the CIA, KGB and Mossad on how to be a 'proper' agent and he might have played a bigger role in the Cold War. Despite him being a Nazi and an SS, I respect him for doing his profession well above all

[@pool2587]

murdered tesla too

[@Matthew-hb9ff]

As a veteran, great leaders are not without faults. Dude was bad ass , just like Rommel

[@Renee2day598]

Thank you!! Another well documented video! Skorzeny definitely had an interesting life, to say the least! Keep up the great work you do, Simon & all who are involved with Biographics! Cheers!

[@skyden24195]

CIA: "Can you work for us?" Skorzeny: "You know I'm a little too busy."

[@paulfrantizek102]

The only reason I didn't like this is that there are already 88 upvotes.

[@ehrldawg]

LOL !!!

[@ChristianAuditore14]

He probably did work for them too

[@htx92]

The only reason I didn't like this is that it's stupid.

[@padraig5335]

@@paulfrantizek102 Can't change yours. You have 14

[@melvinshelton8448]

I once read a biography of Otto Skorzeny, formerly an officer of the Waffen SS, German Third Reich. It was entitled, "Commando Extraordinary", written sometime in the 1960s, and may by now be out of print. At any rate, the writing was done after WW-II, when Skorzeny was living in Madrid. He was interviewed at least once by the author, and the book was written with his personal cooperation. Its title was "Commando Extraordinary". I don't remember who wrote it (I was a kid.), but it was well-written. I thought It was clear that the author had to an extent fallen under the Skorzeny's charm, which was known to be exceptional. He described his first meeting with Skorzeny, who arrived late for the meeting, apologizing for his tardiness. The author arose from the table, arm outstretched for a handshake. As he did so, he noticed that many of the other diners had paused in their meals, staring blatantly up at Skorzeny as he passed. The author admits, somewhat grudgingly, "And so, from my six feet, did I." Skorzeny is described as standing between 6'3" and 6'4" tall. Startlingly, he denies ever having been an ardent Nazi. Instead, he states that he saw himself as an ardent anticommunist, and if that constituted being a Nazi, then he had always been a Nazi, and he still was. He was proud of having been in the Waffen SS, which he completely dissociated from the heavily, if not totally, SS-run concentration camps. He dismissed those SS members linked to them simply as executioners. I got the impression that he was contemptuous of them, but his feelings toward them, and Hitler, are not recorded. The vid does not describe many of Skorzeny's postwar activities, e.g., his purely combat actions in Vietnam against the Viet Minh/Viet Cong, whom he describes as "the same enemy in a different uniform", but describes the French Foreign Legionnaires (who were in Vietnam before Americans were involved there), as "magnificent fighters". He describes, with obvious pride, using the communists' own tactics against them, and winning. For example, he would tie the families of the enemy to his tanks to stop their attacks, goading them to utter impotent fury at their inability to do anything about it but stop fighting and go home. He is contemptuous of South Vietnamese soldiers. Period. Having seen this vid, which I think is also very well done, it is interesting to compare the book and the vid, and see what each leaves out of picture. The book doesn't mention his pride in the third world army troopers he trained after the war. His describes them, before training as useless. After training, he says simply, "You could incorporate the into any army in the world, without further drilling". The vid includes a far larger account of Skorzeny's interactions with the German Army brass, and in passing, with Hitler himself.. But most importantly, the vid describes the virtually unbelievable range of countries and organizations for which he conducted clandestine operations at the close of the war, and afterward. I didn't take notes. But they included the Mossad (Israel) and the NKVD (USSR). As for the OSS (USA), again, surprisingly, not much of anything. I think the grand total of espionage customers he had was somewhere around nine or ten. He must have worked like a banshee screams. He may have been a grandmaster at time management. It seems that much, or most, or all of these jobs must have been done simultaneously. Maybe he just didn't breathe, and I don't recall any reference to a family. I am a psychiatrist and a neuropsychologist. I would like to have had his only client, l sometimes merely the most important. For a while, I wondered whether he had ever felt empathy, or even sympathy, for another person. MAYBE HE DID: He didn't kill the villagers he had kidnapped and used as shields. He let them go home. MAYBE HE DIDN'T: He didn't kill his hostage families after the battle was won. But he didn't need to; it would accomplish nothing other than further uniting the furious enemy fighters, and pissing them off even further, maybe even to the the point of death by proxy, in battle. 0 This man was like an onion: a little deeper, and you will find something completely different.

[@user-vp9zw8is3o]

frohe weihnachten - melvin

[@blueberrymcphuckerson9821]

I think you can get the book on Amazon. A book about him with that title was made by an author Charles Foley.

[@TheLyraki1]

you can also buy his own book.Very interesting to read.

[@1958Shemp]

@Ben Siener The guy's whole career could be summed-up thus: "Which way is the wind blowing? To whom could I be useful and profit from?"

[@Mikhail-Tkachenko]

He had layers like an ogre. I mean onion.

[@PeterMasalski93]

Skill Level: I'm too young to die Hey, not too rough Hurt me plenty Ultra-Violence Nightmare! Otto Skorzeny!

[@miltongroppojunior146]

You are getting old mate, and so all other who liked your "doomed" comment (myself included).

[@adamusso_tk]

Underrated comnent!

[@sisterspooky]

Surprisingly, with the copious amount of documentaries I’ve watched about WWII, the literature I’ve read about WWII, and the various news reels I’ve seen from WWII - I’ve never heard of this guy. Thanks @Biographics for sharing this!

[@phillipbrewster6058]

So it sounds like he became a double quadruple octagonal agent!

[@aidengoosemorey3499]

@Rudol Von Stroheim r/woooosh

[@RejectedInch]

a polyhedral man by all means

[@modtwentyeight]

Whichever way the wind blows.

[@dangerouswater]

Funniest conversation in history: Eichmann: "Mossad is headhunting me..." Skorzeny: "Me too..."

[@aidengoosemorey3499]

@Le Naker and afterwards, he helped America in Vietnam

[@toddwilliamson5580]

Fun fact : after the war ended, the Israeli Mossad recruited him in order to help hunt down Nazi war criminals who escaped to South America after the war. The guy was the definition of mercenary. He had no side. He only fought wars and carried out raids, and undercover operations because of the sheer fun of it, but also because he cared about how much it pays.

[@68majortom]

@@toddwilliamson5580 the last interview I saw with Skorzeney he said "I'm still a proud National Socialist & wouldn't change a thing" working for the Israelis nah no chance!!!

[@heinrichvonwicker168]

@@68majortom You should look into how Zionists and National Socialists actually did work together... Zionists used the NS to increase their numbers in Palestine so they could eventually create Israel, which Hitler supported.

[@NickB1967]

@@toddwilliamson5580 "Better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in...." - what the Mossad must have been thinking, to paraphrase LBJ.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:20 - Chapter 1 - The most dangerous man in Vienna 1:15 - Chapter 2 - The most dangerous man in Berlin 3:05 - Chapter 3 - The most dangerous man in a glider 11:15 - Chapter 4 - The most dangerous man in Madrid 12:40 - Chapter 5 - The most dangerous man in Tel Aviv 15:15 - Chapter 6 - The most dangerous man in a FOIA search engine 19:50 - Chapter 7 - The most dangerous man is no more

[@andreawallenberger2668]

"The most dangerous man in a FOIA search engine" 😂😂😂👏

[@justagentleman4091]

Thank you. I wish this was the top comment. Props to you good sir! Cheers

[@JagerLange]

"He jumped into Iran packed with gold and explosives" Ouch.

[@mcmasters1484]

“So you’re telling me hitler put him in charge of a tank division” “Das Reich” 2:05

[@matmat3126]

Colton Barta that was a good one

[@joshjwillway1545]

Nice one

[@machida58]

SSSHHHIZAAAAAAAAA

[@machida58]

The dank division

[@AbtinX]

I don't understand. Am I too old?

[@MeganChic]

Sounds like a real life James Bond. He’s not in it for the money just the adrenaline rush.

[@-VAJRA-]

Just to survive

[@krh5081]

You're thinking of Christopher Lee.

[@idek8718]

google dusko popov, james bond is literally based off of him, he was a triple spy during ww2

[@MatewanMassacre]

In it to kill, and be a state-backed criminal.

[@torqueamerican4319]

FANTASTIC true story - but you tell it so well... Otto Skorzeny's life needs to be a Hollywood film... wow

[@patw8333]

Hollywood would ruin his life's story

[@tylersavage9173]

@@patw8333 well not only that.. he was a nazi. The very fact of that alone would suggest that his life story portrayed through a Hollywood lense, wouldn’t stand a chance of being factual and unbiased. Consisting of fact and fact only.. It’d probably come out more like a lib-tard propaganda film lol making him out to be exclusively pure evil. Rather than taking away emphasis from his nazi membership, portraying his whole life story, and leaving the judgment of character and sum of actions to the viewer. Because there was a whole lot more to this dude than the 3rd Reich. While nazis obviously aren’t cool or socially acceptable to side with, let’s face it, this dude was was a badass lol

[@sammorgan1963]

Great stuff and very informative. My father WWII veteran James T. Morgan, 100 years old, passed 25 March 2020. After WWII he was a CIC agent. During the 1940s he operated in New York City. Later 1951-58 we were a spy family in Bavaria. As a young boy met famous and infamous people in our German home. To me they were dad's friends. Dad was aware of Skorzeny but not his play pen, I think. You mentioned JFK. In 1963 some one tipped off the CIC about a hit. My father most definitely is not Secret Service. Yet, for several days he and another trusted agent Al, "took Kennedy's limo apart." They were looking for 'bugs and bombs.' I asked, last year, who ordered you to to do this? He replied, "I can't remember." I said , dad why was the CIC trying to protect Kennedy? He said, "orders from above." Bye-the-way, dad 'encountered' Skorzeny and friends during the Battle of the Bulge.

[@41hijinx22]

Bs

[@hisdudeness4537]

r/thathappened

[@HistoryExplained]

Think you know everything about the letter T? That’s just the half of IT.

[@RichMitch]

Get it

[@trigger_once]

ok This joke fiTs Too well.

[@ahuddleston6512]

Awesome

[@CorbCorbin]

“But, that’s only half of IT.” This is how a grammar teacher told it when I was a kid.

[@ugoeze7360]

I see what you did there

[@boxogoxo3899]

Tito was such a badass even Otto Skorzeny couldn't kill him

[@zoltancsikos5604]

Nimar X He was a joke.

[@martinheretics2645]

@@zoltancsikos5604 Better then, your Horthy....by finishing rollover in the carpet :-D & sent to mandatory holidays in Bavaria....

[@meranzo8665]

Even he came to funeral of him

[@dabome4001]

not only Otto,but one much more dangerous guy called Mustafa Golubić

[@laszlogman2545]

Yes , he was

[@MrTom-xk5vh]

I sometimes find your pieces a bit “light” in substance, but this one was great. Best to date. I am impressed how much content you crank (read) out every day.

[@jaimebruno7595]

My dad met him, when he worked in a popular Bank, in Madrid ( in the early 60's). He attended Otto several times, and he can remember his scar and that strong austrian accent ( always very elegant). A lot of transfers, money etc ( ODESSA? Israel ?)

[@rebelliousnature4795]

15:45 This level of research is why I love this channel, deep digging and fact checking, superb, you guys are awesome, thanks for all you do!

[@rvanhees89]

Yeah..... no. This is wikipedia level research, and they make a lot of mistakes in their videos that are really clumsy and lazy

[@joevenespineli6389]

@@rvanhees89 These videos aren't supposed to be substitutes for actual research

[@dadadannn]

These videos are pretty much paraphrases of Wikipedia pages

[@rvanhees89]

@@joevenespineli6389 tell that to the rest of the flock lol

[@arnaldoteodorani277]

Nick with no last name Actually the video does not say that Skorzeny deported Hungarian Jews. That simply wasn’t his job. He simply participated in the removal of Horthy. According to the video it was Horthy’s successors who did the deporting.

[@vindobonaification]

Otto Skorzeny's career: embracing diversity decades before the millenials.

[@artiearboleda01]

*facepalm

[@dontask6863]

Ok Boomer

[@DeepMoonChild]

This episode was particularly interesting. And the music was perfect, thanks Simon for this delight. 😊

[@mr.crighton9491]

you got a perfect voice for these episodes. And, your research and presentations are worthy of some sort of medal.

[@urosbozanic]

I just want y'all to know that I was here when the title read : "Otto Skorzeny: he Most Dangerous Man in Europe" . You have been blessed with this knowledge, use it wisely!

[@RichMitch]

Whatever happens to us, this knowledge will on. Like voyager or that jet fuel can't melt steel beams

[@urosbozanic]

@@RichMitch That was beautifully said Mr. Rich Mitch! May this knowledge never die!

[@EnglishAdventures]

Keep up the amazing work Simon! I'm constantly impressed by the quality of your content, your eloquence, and your presentation. It is inspiring to accompany your work. Take care!

[@shaconaward9487]

These doco-specials are highly informative, absolutely fascinating. They were frightening times. Moreover, These specials should be televised frequently.

[@xGaLoSx]

I've been watching WWII videos on youtube for 15 years and there always seems to be another amazing story i haven't discovered yet. That war was so packed with extraordinary events, it's mind boggling.

[@projektkobra2247]

You can never know all there is to know about WW2.

[@MrDoYouKnowMe2211]

he protecc he attacc but most importantly he most dangerous man in europe

[@joevines3428]

Boo you should be ashamed of yourself.

[@skizzik121]

Nah this is fantastic

[@shooketh7285]

Lolololol

[@evilubuntu9001]

The meme is dead. Please let it die.

[@poponachtschnecke]

@@evilubuntu9001 he report of my death was an exaggeration

[@dulio12385]

Otto Skorzeny: The poster boy for multi-class employment.

[@shaconaward9487]

Each of the biographic episodes are fascinating, thorough in their research, and informative. These historical figures are in some cases frequently talked about. While some are read about in the pages of history books. Simon Whistler is engaging.

[@philippeszwarcbart6507]

“You help us out German scientists in Egypt and we won’t kill you” “Ok”

[@ahuddleston6512]

This is one channel I know I can give a thumbs up even before watching it.

[@bobbrown3667]

I wish I could give more than one thumbed up 😀

[@June071710]

mercenary: noun. 'a soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them'. Cambridge Dictionary

[@trainknut]

The dude's name sounds like a mix of a generic German bad guy and a generic Russian bad guy, of course he's gonna be the most dangerous man.

[@theprofesser2618]

Not Russ, East Prussian.

[@renataostertag6051]

@@theprofesser2618 His name is Hungarian - Austria and Hungary were once one country.

[@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_]

@@theprofesser2618 Skorzeny sounds like it is Czech or Polish or Russian or something.

[@TheYeti308]

@@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_ East Prussian.

[@DogDogGodFog]

I mean even the Wikipedia page says that his surname is of Polish origin and that it's referring to the Skorzęcin in Greater Poland.

[@williamburdick7753]

As an "expat" i was very surprised to learn of this man several years ago (not something learned in the usa) very fascinating and bravo, I am very glad to see this bio.

[@ernstvanstangl1048]

Film worthy bloke! He's always been intriguing to me.

[@anthony777100]

Netflix needs to make a show about this guy's life.

[@shaunmattice6413]

@@flemishnatsoc3152 Idiot.

[@UlfhedinnNorsk]

Shaun Mattice Is this guy for real?🤦🏻‍♂️

[@UlfhedinnNorsk]

tess sanders 😂 What’s an “ant-American”? Like an Ant- man American?

[@stever6894]

​@@flemishnatsoc3152: Every time you spew that nonsense, your lack of education becomes evident to everyone. Wasn't the appreciation and frequent use of your literacy something they encouraged in you on a regular basis? Or did they just plop you down in front of a television?

[@kcbh24]

@marios gianopoulos don't you just love the smell of anti-Semitic trolls in the morning? Makes it easier to track and report them. Bye, you hateful slug.

[@Jordan-gv2bp]

Hands down my favorite Biographics video.

[@ajay4319]

This guy deserves a movie or a series of his own

[@meloniejen8400]

Biographics: he entire comment section:

[@hfrmartin]

LMFAO

[@goodcookgaming5352]

3 days later it still isn't fixed

[@wakanda9985]

goodcook gaming its the joke

[@hungarianbaron9406]

Miklós Horthy

[@peculiarpangolin4638]

So dangerous that he did the ultimate crime.... Flipping road signs.

[@CanalTremocos]

Mutley did most of the groundwork though.

[@pipzilla9819]

Lol

[@jangoltz7589]

to be fair without gps and only equipped with maps of areas youve never been, its sure to create confusion

[@joeclaridy]

Truly a fiend deserving of the worst punishment allowed

[@Delicious_J]

@das wright He's being sarcastic

[@msrobt.debruce212]

Your best Simon. Have watched many many times ,will many more times. This is a lot to take in ,hence, watching , yet, again.

[@ingmarfris8175]

This is one of my favorite episodes of Biographics. I really love the different layers of Otto. Who did he really work for? Everyone. It's just so interesting to think that he worked for the USSR from the beginning.

[@TheHelghast1138]

I've read a lot of books on Otto Skorzeny and I didn't even know all of this stuff, excellent video!

[@rexfulgur8588]

Interesting video Simmy! I can't wait to see your biography at one million subscribers!

[@sgt.pepper4160]

The soundtrack for this one is on point! 👌

[@ronalrocco4788]

Wow! Hard to keep the pace. Excellent bio.

[@Schindler414]

Great video! I'd love to see one about Simon Wiesenthal.

[@redshell8006]

I know it's a lot to ask but please could you do a biography on Albert Speer when it's convenient? Love your content :)

[@cathalkelly8796]

I think that this is the first biographics video that I'll have to watch 3 or 4 times!

[@Skualo-77]

Great job and thanks for your service wow i love how this guy works making this documentaries

[@kevinjean7231]

Hey, I'm subscribed to all you channels and think you're doing a fantastic job. Could you do the biography of Toussaint Louverture or Capois La Mort (2 of Haiti's founding fathers)? Just an idea but it would be extremely informative for most of your viewers. Cheers to you regardless

[@psbrayshaw]

I love your WW2 videos! Such an interesting part of history. Thanks Simon 👍

[@user-mb3dx5fl9f]

I find it fairly interesting that one single man managed to be one of the best SS agents and one of the best Mossad agents.

[@jonathancooper4914]

That was absolutely fascinating.

[@commbruce]

I love the research done for this video. I think we need a video on Wiesenthal next. A few other people to include Chiang Kai Shek, who is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, Ariel Dahl from pilot to spy to children’s author, and Grant Morrison comic luminary and drug enthusiast.

[@gangoffour6690]

Glad Marty finally made his way to the U.S. shores. Skorzany sure made some great movies with Robert Di Nero. Taxi Driver and Raging Bull were great movies. Martin Skorzany made many other great movies also 👍🏼

[@taylorrico496]

Please do James Armistead Lafayette! I think so many people have not heard of this individual and his story is truly the stuff of legends

[@Panzerreich]

I love your channel!! Im hooked on watching videos..

[@CamWooster]

This video gave me Hugo Stiglitz vibes (for those of you who've seen Inglourious Basterds).

[@leemichael2154]

Everyone in the German army has heard of HUGO STIGLITZ lol

[@sodarkherhair78]

12:35 That is really intriguing. About twenty years ago I was reading revisionist literature. I remember reading about Waffen-SS leaders being recruited by the Israelis to provide support and knowledge in the "Six-Days-War". I wanted to learn more about it and got in touch with several institutions, including the History Bureau of the German Bundeswehr (the Federal Republic's army). I was told back then that they had no knowledge about German soldiers siding with Israel but that they had cooperated with with Egypt instead !

[@robertlafferty3790]

I have a genuine love for all the facts you dish out on all you channels man hi5 and long may it all continue. You have made me interested an world history on many different levels and I thank you. Keep up the good work!

[@liquorinfrontpokerinrear3271]

@Robert Lafferty.. Slow down Robert, these are not facts, unless you can verify 2 sources. If I were to tell you that a president of these states was a Navy officer for Hitler would you believe me? No, of course not. But if I a picture? Look up operation paperclip, operation odessa. Does he mention where Otto died? Well, he lived out his life right here in America. And before he died, he had some fun facts to tell with pictures. George H Scherff Jr, born in Germany, a German SS Navy officer worked with Otto Skorzeny on operation odessa and paperclip. That man is know by U. S. Intelligence as George H Bush Jr. Hitler lived out his life in S. America were the Scherff had a plantation. Hitler, the owners of the federal reserve bank, the queen of england, all new each other. When Hitler was bombing london, notice not 1 rocket came close to the queens palace? You need to research before giving your soul to crap stories. How did Hitler take a country from broke, starving, 85% unemployment to less then 5% in 11/2 years? It's impossible, unless you get gold from the U.S. which took gold away from there citizens in 1933. It's that the same year Hitler became Chancellor? When you do your research on the owners of the federal reserve bank, and where they came from, maybe you will come up with the same answer as I did, 4!

[@john6203]

How a movie is not made of this mans life is beyond me. But we a Ghost Busters remake????go figure.

[@kazkk2321]

He was a good opportunist and that's why he survived that long

[@Anomaly-uz9pr]

Oy vey

[@modarnwarfare2rull]

@johnmann How is he wrong ?

[@boondocksaints6620]

It looks like his fencing partner didn’t “schmiss” his face !

[@AdrianMareEWEASANTE]

Ffs

[@CorbCorbin]

Shwing...and a shmiss.

[@KurtisC93]

It was a near-schmiss.

[@MrEnjoivolcom1]

Ohhhhhh!!!! Too good, burn💣💥!!

[@techsilver7761]

Actually, he obviously did give him a "Schmiss", evidently Skorzeny didnt keep his guard up :D

[@knarftrakiul3881]

Just subscribed to your channel. Love it.

[@SwfanredLotr]

Skorzeny was a true badass. His life would be perfect for a movie.

[@spitshinetommy3721]

No one who isn't a white supremacist would want to see it. Let's make a biopic about Mengele while we're at it.

[@ecco2ks]

@@spitshinetommy3721 people write books about hitler

[@imq8501]

@@spitshinetommy3721 Cope it’s a amazing interesting story

[@artair70]

@@spitshinetommy3721 You lot and your obsession with him being White, FFS.

[@ftbstrd5741]

Thank you for hearing our prayers! Wernher Von Braun next please?

[@smittyjiggerman4349]

In some ways reminds me of Robert Rogers in the sense that his love of the game and fighting seemed to outweigh his love for any one country or group. Speaking of which, if you ahven't done one on Rogers you definitely should.

[@garethgleeson3995]

Thank you knowledge moby for this knowledge

[@winnieobrien7698]

I just read in some books that he grew up with and was best friends with Kaltenbrunner. I was also under the impression he was tried in and kept at Nuremberg. While Kaltenbrunner would have his outside time Otto would throw notes out his window for him. I guess they were novels for a reason. Can you suggest any actual books on both men? I've been obsessed with WWII and the Holocaust since I was 16, now 40, and I don't know how I made it this far without knowing about these guys. You really do learn something new everyday. Thanks for the video!

[@CultistGrenadier]

Skorzeny was there, before we knew James Bond and Solid Snake.

[@jakemocci3953]

Those dueling scars are absolutely badass

[@sravans149]

Man played WW2 on insane difficulty and carried on