Ep 3. Mountain Massacre

WWII's Greatest Raids season 1 episode 3, titled "Mountain Massacre," chronicles the true story of Operation Eiche, a daring rescue mission undertaken by the Germans to free their deposed leader, Benito Mussolini. At the height of World War II, the Italian dictator was being held captive by Italian partisans in a remote mountain hideout.

Led by the legendary German paratroop commander Otto Skorzeny, the mission involved dropping a team of elite soldiers by glider into the heart of the mountains, just a few miles from the enemy stronghold. The objective was to infiltrate the partisan-controlled valley, locate Mussolini, and extract him to safety.

The episode begins with reconstructions of the German planning and preparations for the mission. We see Skorzeny, played by James Grogan, reviewing aerial photographs and discussing the plan with his top officers. He outlines his strategy, which calls for swift and decisive action to overcome the odds and succeed in rescuing Mussolini.

The German team undergoes rigorous training in preparation for the mission, practicing every aspect of their infiltration and escape plan. We see them practicing landing gliders in difficult terrain, patrolling through hostile territory, and using radios to communicate with each other and with their base.

The episode then moves to the day of the mission itself. The German team, led by Skorzeny, board their gliders and take off from a nearby airfield. They fly low and silent over enemy lines, slipping past Italian air defenses undetected, and land gracefully in a clearing in the mountains.

From here, the Germans begin their dangerous mission. They move quietly and quickly through the forest, avoiding detection from the partisan forces who are patrolling the area. The terrain is rugged and unforgiving, and the soldiers are forced to climb steep cliffs and cross treacherous ravines in order to reach their objective.

Throughout the episode, we see dramatic reconstructions of the key moments in the mission. We see the Germans ambushing and killing the partisan guards who are stationed outside the villa where Mussolini is being held. They then break into the villa itself, which is guarded by a small contingent of elite soldiers. A fierce gun battle ensues, with both sides exchanging fire and casualties.

Finally, Skorzeny himself locates Mussolini, who is being held in a small room in the basement of the villa. Despite being weakened by months of captivity, Mussolini is still a formidable figure, and Skorzeny has to physically carry him out of the villa and back up the mountain to the waiting gliders.

The final part of the episode shows the German team making their daring escape back to friendly territory. They have to dodge Italian air defenses and navigate through treacherous mountain passes, but they eventually make it back to their base, where they are greeted as heroes.

The episode ends with a commentary on the success of the mission and its impact on the war. The rescue of Mussolini was a propaganda coup for the Germans, and it boosted morale among their troops. However, it also enraged the Allies, who launched a fierce counter-attack in Italy in response.

Overall, "Mountain Massacre" is an action-packed and gripping episode of WWII's Greatest Raids. It combines thrilling reconstructions with expert analysis and commentary, giving viewers a real glimpse into the daring and dangerous missions undertaken by the soldiers in World War II.