
Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso Mount, 12 September 1943. After the conclusion of the Unternehmen Eiche (Operation Oak), the Mussolini’s liberation, the DFS 230 glider, being impossible its easy down line transport, were burned. In this Bundesarchi’s photo (Bild 1011-567 1503D-05) a German Fallschirmjäger controlling one the glider in flames after the departure of Mussolini. Victor Sierra


Operation “Eiche”: the end

Gran Sasso Mount, 12 September 1943: some of the ten German gliders DFS 230 just landed at Campo Imperatore with a commando of the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division leaded by the Major Harald-Otto Mors, commissioned for the liberation of Benito Mussolini. In background the hotel where Mussolini was held prisoner. For piloting the glider commissioned for the mission (Unternehmen Eiche/Operation Oak) was chosen only well experienced glider pilots because the demanding conditions of the flight in high mountain’s areas: ex. wind strength and direction, drop winds, visibility, ceiling, air currents, turbulence… Rightly the gliders landed uphill over slopes, another land’s type nothing easy… Victor Sierra
(Bundesarchiv photo Bild 1011-567 1503B-23)


A land nothing easy…

Gran Sasso/Italy, September 12, 1943. 
Benito Mussolini liberated. Next to him Otto Skorzeny, German paratroopers and Italian soldiers of the Duce's guards. Note that the Italians weren't even disarmed (Beretta SMG on the Italian troop on the lower left).
[Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-567-1503C-16]