They have made their contribution to the outcome.
In the history of the twentieth century there were many experts in sabotage. This is the story of the most famous saboteurs who carried out the most daring operations in WWII.
Otto Skorzeny
In early July 1975 in Spain died of Otto Skorzeny, thanks to his memoirs and popularity in the media turned into a “king of commandos” during his lifetime. Although such a grandiose title, given its poor track record does not look quite fair, charisma Skorzeny — over six feet tall and stern man with a strong chin and a brutal scar on his cheek — charmed the press, which created the image of a daring saboteur.
Life Skorzeny was constantly accompanied by legends and hoaxes, some of which he created himself. Until the mid 30-ies he was an ordinary and unremarkable as an engineer in Vienna, in 1934, joined the SS, and then began the myths. Several sources claimed that Skorzeny allegedly shot and killed the Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss, but currently it is believed that the assassination of Chancellor gorkon during the attempted coup made by another representative of the SS. After the Anschluss of Austria, her Chancellor Schuschnigg was arrested by the Germans, but here unambiguously confirm the participation Skorzeny in his arrest impossible. Anyway Schuschnigg himself later stated that he knew nothing about the participation of Skorzeny in his arrest and did not remember.
After the outbreak of the Second world war, Skorzeny was a sapper in the operating forces. Information about his wartime experience is quite controversial and it is known only that in combat, he participated briefly on the Eastern front, he spent only a few months and in December 1941 he was sent home for treatment inflamed gallbladder. More Skorzeny in the fighting did not participate.
In 1943, as an officer with an engineering degree, he was sent to camp Oranienburg, where he conducted training small groups of saboteurs. Based on it later was formed the SS Jaeger battalion 502, which was commanded by Skorzeny.
What Skorzeny was entrusted with the management of the operation that made it. Appointed him head of Hitler himself. However, he was in the Wehrmacht there was virtually no sabotage units, as officers, mostly brought up on the old Prussian traditions with the disdain this “gang” warfare.
The operation consisted in the following: after the allied landings in southern Italy and defeat Italian forces at Stalingrad Mussolini was removed from power by the Italian king and was kept under arrest in a mountain hotel. Hitler was interested in maintaining control over the industrialized North of Italy and decided to steal Mussolini to appoint him head of the puppet Republic.
Skorzeny demanded a company of Marines and decided to land at the hotel in heavy gliders to take Mussolini and fly away. In the end, the operation turned ambivalent: on the one hand, her goal was achieved and Mussolini managed to take, on the other hand, when landing, there were several accidents and 40% of the personnel of the company was killed, despite the fact that the Italians did not resist.
Nevertheless, Hitler was pleased and from that moment fully trusted Skorzeny, although almost all of his subsequent operation ended in failure. Daring idea of the destruction of allied leaders Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the talks in Tehran failed. Soviet and British intelligence even on the distant approaches defused German agents.
Was not successful and the operation “Grief” in which dressed in American uniforms of the German agents was to capture the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary forces of the allies Eisenhower. With this aim, in the whole of Germany was looking for soldiers who speak the American dialect of English. They were trained in a special camp, where American prisoners of war told them about the characteristics and habits of soldiers. However, due to tight deadlines saboteurs failed to properly prepare, the commander of the first group on the first day of the operation hit a mine, and the second group was captured with all documents related to the transaction, then the Americans learned about it.
The second successful operation is “Bazookas”. The leader Horthy’s Hungary on the background of failures in the war determined to sign a truce, so the Germans decided to kidnap his son, that he renounced the position and Hungary continued the war with the new government. Nothing specifically subversive in this operation was not Skorzeny lured Horthy’s son to a meeting supposedly with Yugoslavia, where he was captured, rolled up in a carpet and taken. After that, Skorzeny just arrived to the residence of Horthy with a group of soldiers and forced him to abdicate.
After the war: he settled in Spain, gave interviews, wrote memoirs, worked on the image of the “king of the commandos”. According to some reports, collaborated with the Mossad and gave advice to the President of Argentina, Peron. Died in 1975 of cancer.
Adrian von Felkerzams
German saboteur No. 2, remaining in the shadows Skorzeny largely due to the fact that it did not survive the war and have not received the same publicity. The commander of the 800 th special regiment Brandenburg — unique and subversive forces. Although the unit worked in close connection with the Wehrmacht, the German officers (especially nurtured in the old Prussian tradition) despised to the specifics of the regiment, violating all conceivable rules of war (wearing someone else’s form, the rejection of any moral constraints in the conduct of the war), so he was assigned to the Abwehr.
The soldiers of the regiment passed special training, making it an elite unit: melee, techniques of disguise, explosives, tactics of sabotage, learning foreign languages, working out of the fight in small groups, etc.
Felkerzams was in a group as Russian German. He was born in St. Petersburg and came from a distinguished family: his great-grandfather was a General under the Emperor Nicholas I, his grandfather, rear-Admiral, who died on the ship in the right way at the battle of Tsushima, the father, a prominent art critic and Keeper of the treasure gallery of the Hermitage.
After coming to power of the Bolsheviks the family of Felkerzam had to flee the country, and he grew up in Riga, where as the Ostsee(Baltic) Germans emigrated to Germany in 1940, when Latvia was annexed to USSR. Felkerzams he commanded the Baltic squadron in Brandenburg-800, which was collected by Baltic Germans, fluent in Russian, which made them valuable for sabotage operations on the territory of the USSR.
With the direct participation of Felkerzam was carried out several successful operations. As a rule, it was the seizure of the bridges and strategic points in the cities. The commandos, dressed in Soviet form, calmly passed on bridges or drove into the city and captured the key points of Soviet soldiers either did not have time to resist and was taken prisoner, or were killed in a shootout. A similar image was captured bridges across the Dvina and Berezina, as well as station and power plant in Lviv. The most famous was a diversion Maikop in 1942. The soldiers of Felkerzam, dressed in the uniform of the NKVD, arrived in the city, find out the location of all points of defense, seized a headquarters communications and completely disorganized the entire defense, sending the city orders an immediate retreat of the garrison in connection with inevitable surroundings. By the time as the Soviet side understood what was happening, the city has already tightened the main forces of the Wehrmacht and took it almost without resistance.
Successful sabotage of Felkerzam drew the attention of Skorzeny, who took him to himself and made it almost right hand. Felkerzams participated in some of its operations, in particular, to offset Horthy, and the attempt to capture Eisenhower. As for Brandenburg, in 1943, the regiment was enlarged to a division and because of the increase of the number actually lost their elite status and was used as a conventional fighting force.
Did not live to see the end of the war, was killed in January 1945 in Poland.
Yunio Valerio Borghese (Black Prince)
Comes from the famous Italian aristocratic family, which was the popes, cardinals, and famous Industrialists, and one of the ancestors was in relationship with Napoleon after his marriage to his sister. He Yunio Borghese was married to a Russian Countess Olsufieva, who was a distant relative of the Emperor Alexander I.
The captain of the 2nd rank of the Italian Navy. At his personal insistence to obey the 10th flotilla was organized by a special commando unit “human-torpedoes”. In addition to them in the flotilla was a special midget submarines to deliver those torpedoes and boats filled with explosives.
Chelovekonapravleny torpedoes, called “Maiale”, was developed by Italians in the late 30-ies. Each torpedo was fitted with a motor, devices for respiratory team, warhead of 200 to 300 pounds and is operated by two crew members, sitting on her horse.
The torpedo was brought to a place of diversion of a special submarine, and then went into the water, heading to the ship-the victim. The warhead was equipped with a clockwork mechanism to five hours, which allowed swimmers to leave the scene of the explosion.
However, because of imperfection of technology of torpedoes often failed also broke breathing apparatus that forced the submarine to terminate the job. However, after the first failure, the Italians managed to succeed. The most famous operation was the RAID on Alexandria in December 1941, where the base of the British fleet. Despite the precautions of the British, Italian saboteurs managed to bring torpedoes, bringing the mighty British battleships valiant and Queen Elizabeth were badly damaged and were sent for overhaul. In fact from flooding they were only saved by the fact that they were in the Parking lot at a small depth. Was also badly damaged a destroyer and sunk by a cargo tanker.
It was a very serious blow, after which the Italian Navy for some time gained an advantage in the Mediterranean theatre of operations quantitative superiority in battleships. The British were in a quandary, has lost superiority at sea, and this allowed the Italians and the Germans to boost the supply of the military in North Africa, where they have achieved success. The RAID on Alexandria frogmen and Prince Borghese was awarded the highest Italian award — the gold medal “For valor”.
After the exit of Italy from the war, Borghese was supported by Pro-German puppet Republic of Salo, but he almost did not participate in the fighting, because the fleet remained in the hands of Italy.
After the war, Borghese was convicted of collaborating with the Germans (for activities in the Republic of Salo, when Italy withdrew from the war) and sentenced to 12 years in prison, but given his feats during the war, the term was reduced to three years. After his release he sympathized with the ultra-right politicians, has written a memoir. In 1970 he was forced to leave Italy due to suspicions of involvement in the coup attempt. Died in Spain in 1974.
Pavel Sudoplatov
The main Soviet spy. Specialized not only sabotage, but also on the operations to eliminate the unwanted Stalin political figures such as Trotsky). Immediately after the outbreak of war in the USSR was created Special group of the NKVD, which was in charge of the guerrilla movement and led them. Was the head of the 4th Department of the NKVD that specialized directly on sabotage in the rear of the Germans and the occupied territories. Sudoplatov himself in those years did not participate in the operations, limiting the overall management and development.
Commando units were thrown into the German rear, where, if you had the opportunity, were United into larger guerrilla groups. Since the work was extremely dangerous, much attention was paid to the training of saboteurs: as a rule, these groups recruited people who had good athletic training. Thus, in one sabotage-reconnaissance groups was USSR champion in Boxing Nikolay Korolev.
Unlike conventional guerrilla groups, the DRG (sabotage and reconnaissance groups), was prompted serving officers of the NKVD. The most famous of these DRGs became detachment “Winners” under the supervision of an officer of the NKVD of Dmitry Medvedev, who, in turn, was subordinated to Sudoplatov.
Several groups of well-prepared saboteurs (many of whom were trapped in prison in the late 30’s or dismissed in the same period, security officers, amnestied with the beginning of the war) attached to parachutes were dropped to the rear of the Germans, United in one unit which was engaged in murders of high-ranking German officers, as well as Subversion: undermining railway tracks and trains, destruction of telephone cables, etc. In this unit I spent several months of the famous Soviet intelligence officer Nikolai Kuznetsov.
After the war, continued to head the sabotage branch (now specialized on foreign sabotage). After the fall of Beria, Lieutenant-General Sudoplatov was arrested as his close ally. Tried to feign insanity, but was sentenced to 15 years in prison for organizing the murder of Stalin’s opponents, and stripped of all honors and titles. Served time in Vladimir Central. After his release he wrote his memoirs and books on the work of Soviet intelligence, tried to achieve his rehabilitation. He was rehabilitated after the collapse of the USSR in 1992. He died in 1996.
Ilya Starinov
The most famous Soviet spy who worked in the field. If only Sudoplatov directed diversionary action, the old boy directly carried out sabotage, specializing in explosive business. Before the war, Starinov was engaged in the training of saboteurs and the “trained” abroad, after a series of sabotage operations during the Civil war in Spain, where he trained saboteurs among Republicans. Developed a special protivopokazano mine, which are actively used in the USSR during the war.
With the beginning of the war, Starinov was preparing the Soviet partisans, teaching them the explosives. Was one of the leaders of the headquarters for the diversions in the Central headquarters of the partisan movement. Directly carried out the operation to destroy the commandant of Kharkov of General von Braun. During the retreat of Soviet troops near the finest mansion of the city were buried explosives, and to divert attention of German sappers, next to the building in a conspicuous place lies the snag, which the Germans successfully cleared. A few days later the explosives were detonated by remote control, with radio control. It was one of the few in those years, successful applications of RC min, because the technology was not yet sufficiently reliable and Mature.
After the war: he was engaged in clearance of Railways. After retiring, taught the tactics of sabotage in the educational institutions of the KGB to the end of 80-ies. After that he retired, died in 2000.
Colin Gubbins
Before the war, Gubbins was studying guerrilla warfare tactics and sabotage. Later he headed the British special operations Executive (SOE), which was probably the most global factory of terror, sabotage and Subversion in human history. Organization to wreak havoc and sabotaging almost all German-occupied territories. The organization’s trained personnel for the fighters of the Resistance movement in all European countries: Polish, Greek, Yugoslav, Italian, French, Albanian guerrillas received weapons, medicines, food, and trained agents from the SOE.
The most famous sabotage SOE become the explosion of a huge bridge across the river, this tastefully decorated, in Greece, which for several months interrupted service between Athens and Thessaloniki, which contributed to the deterioration of the supply of the Afrika Korps of Rommel in North Africa, and the destruction of the heavy water plant in Norway. The first attempt to destroy the heavy water plant that is potentially suitable for use in the nuclear industry, did not succeed. Only in 1943, prepared the SOE saboteurs managed to destroy the plant and thus virtually to disrupt the German nuclear program.
Another famous SOE operation was the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia and chief of the Reich security (to make it clearer: it’s as if the Germans killed Lavrenty Beria). Two British-trained agents — Czech and Slovak — parachuted in the Czech Republic and threw a bomb that mortally wounded notorious Heydrich.
The top of the organization was to become “operation Foxely — assassination attempt on Hitler. The operation was carefully developed, trained agents and a sniper, who had to jump in a German uniform on parachutes and get to the residence of Hitler Berghof. However, in the end of the operation it was decided to refuse — not so much because of its infeasibility, but because of the fact that the death of Hitler could turn him into a Martyr and to give an additional boost to the Germans. In addition, the site of Hitler could get more talented and capable leader, which would complicate the maintenance of already approach the end of the war.
After the war: resigned, led a textile factory. Was the Bilderberg club, which some conspiracy authors considered something of a secret world government.
Max Manus
The most famous Norwegian saboteur, sink several German ships. After the capitulation of Norway and the German occupation went into underground. Tried to assassinate Himmler and Goebbels during their visit in Oslo, but failed to implement it. Was arrested by the Gestapo, but was able to escape with the help of the underground and transit through several countries moved to Britain, where he was trained in commando SOE.
He was then abandoned in Norway, where he was engaged in the destruction of German ships in ports by using min-sticky. After the successful acts of sabotage Manus moved to nearby neutral Sweden, and helped him avoid capture. During the war sank several German transport ships, becoming the most famous fighter from the Norwegian Resistance. It is the Manus was entrusted to be the bodyguard of the Norwegian king in the Victory parade in Oslo.
After the war, wrote several books about his activities. Founded a sales company of office equipment, existing so far. In the postwar interview, complained that he suffers from nightmares and painful memories about the war that he has to fill with alcohol. To overcome the nightmares, changed the setting and moved with his family to the Canary Islands. Died in 1986, is now considered a national hero in Norway.
Nancy Wake
Before the war he was a journalist. The beginning of the war met in France, where she married a millionaire and got the money and opportunities for their activities. From the very beginning of the occupation of France, he took part in organizing escapes of Jews from the country. After some time, appeared in the lists of the Gestapo and not to fall into their hands, fled to Britain, where took a course of diversionary preparation in the SOE.
Were landed in France with a mission to unite the disparate groups of rebels and the French to govern them. The British provided massive support to the French resistance movement, throwing them with weapons and trained officers for coordination. In France, the British especially were often used as agents of women, since the Germans were less inclined to suspect them.
Wake led the guerrilla units, engaged in the distribution of weapons, ammunition and money dropped by the British. French partisans were assigned an important task: since the beginning of the allied landing in Normandy, they had all means to disturb the Germans in the expulsion of reinforcements to the coast, blowing up trains and attacking German units along their fight.
Nancy Wake was made a great impression on his players, who, as a rule, were laymen. One day she shocked them, easily killing a German sentry with his bare hands: she crept up behind him and broke his larynx with the edge of the palm.
After the war: he received many honors from governments of various countries. Several times unsuccessfully participated in elections. Wrote a memoir about her life was filmed several TV shows and movies. Died in 2011.
