Killing Patton The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General by Bill O'Reilly Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bill O'Reilly
Hitler finish their small talk. The moment is warm. Hitler laughs frequently as Skorzeny recounts his escapades in Hungary. Skorzeny served as Hitler’s personal bodyguard many years ago, and the two men are well acquainted. But Skorzeny knows his place, and he turns to leave before overstaying his welcome.
“Don’t go, Skorzeny,” Hitler orders him.
Skorzeny turns around, puzzled. Clearly, the Führer has something else he would like to discuss. From the sound of it, perhaps there is another pressing issue that requires Skorzeny’s expertise.
“In December, Germany will start a great offensive which may well decide her fate,” Hitler continues. “The world thinks Germany is finished, with only the day and the hour of the funeral to be named. I am going to show them how wrong they are. The corpse will rise and throw itself at the West.”
The Führer has done away with those who might be disloyal to him and is building his battle plans around loyal worshippers such as Otto Skorzeny. So even without Erwin Rommel and his unmatched prowess as a battlefield commander, Hitler is confident of success. The goal of the offensive is to split the British and American armies. It helps that his tank commanders will not have to face George S. Patton and his Third Army, because the secret offensive is deliberately being launched too far north for Patton and his sharp tactical mind to reach the battlefield in time to engage.
Hitler then tells his fellow Austrian the details of the coming offensive. Skorzeny and his men are more than capable of playing a pivotal role in this surprise attack known as Operation Watch on the Rhine, but that is not how Hitler intends to use them.
The coup de grâce will be another operation that will demonstrate to the world that the Nazis have indeed regained the upper hand. That will take place far from the bloody battlefields. Hitler’s orders are quite simple: “Operation Greif” 2 will see Skorzeny and his men infiltrate enemy lines by dressing in American uniforms and pretending to be U.S. soldiers. They will speak English and will sow confusion by spreading false rumors, capturing vital bridges, and killing Americans caught by surprise. Chief among the rumors is one that is meant to cause fear and distraction at the highest levels of Allied leadership: that Skorzeny is en route to Paris to kidnap Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe.
“I am giving you unlimited power to set up your brigade. Use it, colonel!” Hitler says triumphantly.
Skorzeny’s face breaks into a broad smile as he realizes that he has just risen in rank.
“Yes,” Hitler beams. “I have promoted you to Obertsturmbannführer!”
Hitler extends his hand. Once again Skorzeny’s meaty paw envelops the Führer’s.
“Good-bye, Skorzeny,” Hitler says. “I expect to hear great things of Operation Greif.”
Otto Skorzeny’s eyes shine. He is only too happy to accept the challenge.
3
T RIANON P ALACE H OTEL
V ERSAILLES, F RANCE
O CTOBER 21, 1944
E ARLY AFTERNOON
Just as Hitler is briefing Skorzeny, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower lights a cigarette in his first-floor office. His headquarters, a white stone French château one thousand miles west of the Wolf’s Lair, is spotless and regal. The only challenge Eisenhower should be facing right now is how best to celebrate a major turning point in the war. The American army has spent weeks leveling the city of Aachen. At 10 a.m. this morning the famous resort town became the first German municipality to fall into Allied hands. There is widespread hope that this marks the beginning of the end for the Nazi war machine, and that the fighting will end by New Year’s Eve.
Eisenhower smokes and paces. The fifty-four-year-old general played football back in his West Point days, but now he carries a small paunch and walks with his shoulders rolled forward. For security purposes, there is not a situation map tacked to the plywood
“Don’t go, Skorzeny,” Hitler orders him.
Skorzeny turns around, puzzled. Clearly, the Führer has something else he would like to discuss. From the sound of it, perhaps there is another pressing issue that requires Skorzeny’s expertise.
“In December, Germany will start a great offensive which may well decide her fate,” Hitler continues. “The world thinks Germany is finished, with only the day and the hour of the funeral to be named. I am going to show them how wrong they are. The corpse will rise and throw itself at the West.”
The Führer has done away with those who might be disloyal to him and is building his battle plans around loyal worshippers such as Otto Skorzeny. So even without Erwin Rommel and his unmatched prowess as a battlefield commander, Hitler is confident of success. The goal of the offensive is to split the British and American armies. It helps that his tank commanders will not have to face George S. Patton and his Third Army, because the secret offensive is deliberately being launched too far north for Patton and his sharp tactical mind to reach the battlefield in time to engage.
Hitler then tells his fellow Austrian the details of the coming offensive. Skorzeny and his men are more than capable of playing a pivotal role in this surprise attack known as Operation Watch on the Rhine, but that is not how Hitler intends to use them.
The coup de grâce will be another operation that will demonstrate to the world that the Nazis have indeed regained the upper hand. That will take place far from the bloody battlefields. Hitler’s orders are quite simple: “Operation Greif” 2 will see Skorzeny and his men infiltrate enemy lines by dressing in American uniforms and pretending to be U.S. soldiers. They will speak English and will sow confusion by spreading false rumors, capturing vital bridges, and killing Americans caught by surprise. Chief among the rumors is one that is meant to cause fear and distraction at the highest levels of Allied leadership: that Skorzeny is en route to Paris to kidnap Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe.
“I am giving you unlimited power to set up your brigade. Use it, colonel!” Hitler says triumphantly.
Skorzeny’s face breaks into a broad smile as he realizes that he has just risen in rank.
“Yes,” Hitler beams. “I have promoted you to Obertsturmbannführer!”
Hitler extends his hand. Once again Skorzeny’s meaty paw envelops the Führer’s.
“Good-bye, Skorzeny,” Hitler says. “I expect to hear great things of Operation Greif.”
Otto Skorzeny’s eyes shine. He is only too happy to accept the challenge.
3
T RIANON P ALACE H OTEL
V ERSAILLES, F RANCE
O CTOBER 21, 1944
E ARLY AFTERNOON
Just as Hitler is briefing Skorzeny, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower lights a cigarette in his first-floor office. His headquarters, a white stone French château one thousand miles west of the Wolf’s Lair, is spotless and regal. The only challenge Eisenhower should be facing right now is how best to celebrate a major turning point in the war. The American army has spent weeks leveling the city of Aachen. At 10 a.m. this morning the famous resort town became the first German municipality to fall into Allied hands. There is widespread hope that this marks the beginning of the end for the Nazi war machine, and that the fighting will end by New Year’s Eve.
Eisenhower smokes and paces. The fifty-four-year-old general played football back in his West Point days, but now he carries a small paunch and walks with his shoulders rolled forward. For security purposes, there is not a situation map tacked to the plywood
Similar Books
I'm Virtually Yours
Jennifer Bohnet
Act of God
Jeremiah Healy
Daughters of Lyra: Heart of an Assassin
Felicity Heaton
Hart & Boot & Other Stories
Tim Pratt
Guardian
Heather Burch
Read My Lips
Debby Herbenick, Vanessa Schick
Watery Graves
Kelli Bradicich
The Book of Disquiet
Fernando Pessoa
Starfish
Anne Eton
Perfectly Broken
Emily Jane Trent