Preview
  • Otto Skorzeny

  • The Devil’s Disciple
  • By: Stuart Smith
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (108 ratings)

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Otto Skorzeny

By: Stuart Smith
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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Publisher's summary

SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny became a legend in his own time. "Hitler's favorite commando" acquired a reputation as a man of daring, renowned for his audacious 1943 mission to extricate Mussolini from a mountain-top prison. He could be brave and resourceful, but was also a notorious egoist and an unrepentant Nazi until the end of his life.

Stuart Smith draws on years of in-depth research to uncover the truth about Skorzeny's career and complex personality. From his background as a student radical in Vienna to his bloody service with the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front, and from his surprise rebirth as a commando to his intriguing post-war career and mysterious fortune, this book tells Otto Skorzeny's story in full-warts and all-for the first time.

©2018 Stuart Smith (P)2018 Tantor
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What listeners say about Otto Skorzeny

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good balanced bio, reads well

Skorzeny is a fascinating character, and this is a much-awaited biography that reads almost like a war novel. A recommended reading to all interested in WWW II and/or national-socialism.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A comprehensive review of the man and the myth

This is a very well researched and presented book. The narrator was exceptionally good. I highly recommend it to all students of WWII.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good history lesson

If you like reading history books this is a 5 star book. The narrator is top notch and German pronunciations are excellent. The book is overflowing with useful information about the German Army and Skorzeny's life but is not a thriller. Good historical read!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hero is a hero

Although Otto was a Nazi, he was a terrific marketing and military strategist. He managed to get all of the attention from Hitler while superiors had to take a back seat. I loved the story, and not many stories tell of heroic events of the axis powers. If you like WW II books and can't get enough then this is a great read for you. Love a winner even in a losing cause.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good balance of information both Good & Bad on a legend of the Special Warfare Realm

I liked how the author presented the facts and seemed to leave it up to the reader to make his own assumptions. A lot of information as well about German Command & Control of the higher echelons and the politics of the operation of the SS. Good and well written story with good narration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A one dimensional Otto

Plenty of facts but something important was missing. It felt like one never really was able to step into Otto's shoes so to speak. Maybe a lack of personal letters and close friends were his legacy. I thought for years he was inspirational, I was wrong.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not what I expected

This audio book was slower and less exciting than I was anticipating. Good overall job by the narrator. There were stretches of fairly uninteresting/pedestrian achievements in his life.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Interesting Character of History

Interesting to learn that many of his professed accomplishments were in is own head, Never the less, his contributions are legendary.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

good story but biased

Skorzeny has an amazing story. The writer continuously tries to belittle and degrade him and that was constant and annoying.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Balanced and fascinating story of Skorzeny

With this title, I finally know the full story of Otto Skorzeny; what he did and what he was like.

I really like how balanced the author is. While he clearly lays out Otto's daring exploits, he makes a point of showing how they actually happened, and notes discrepancies in Skorzeny's version of these events. He also clearly thinks Skorzeny is somewhat fly-by-night, relying on daring instead of thorough planning. (Or, on having others do the planning for him).

If you want to know more about Skorzeny, get this book. I really feel that it's an unbiased review of what he did well (and not so well).

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