Operation Greif: The History of the Infamous Waffen-SS Commando Operation during the Battle of the Bulge

Written by Charles River Editors

Narrated by KC Wayman

During the Battle of the Bulge, the Allies became understandably nervous, and Hitler hoped to capitalize on German momentum with a top-secret special operation that he named Operation Greif. This mission would utilize German soldiers, trained in sabotage techniques and disguised in American and British uniforms, and have them cross Allied lines to hold strategic targets for the German advance while destroying communication lines and ammunition depots. Most importantly, they would cause chaos and confusion by misdirecting the enemy, as Hitler explained in his orders: “I want you to command a group of American and British troops and get them across the Meuse and seize one of the bridges. Not, my dear Skorzeny, real Americans or British. I want you to create special units wearing American and British uniforms. They will travel in captured Allied tanks. Think of the confusion you could cause! I envisage a whole string of false orders which will upset communications and attack morale.”

The Skorzeny he was addressing was none other than Otto Skorzeny, who had become famous by the late stages of the war because of his role in rescuing Benito Mussolini via the Gran Sasso raid. One thing that characterized Skorzeny was a continuing talent for self-aggrandizement and exaggeration of his role in events, which naturally worked on someone like Hitler. In the wake of the Gran Sasso raid, Hitler awarded Skorzeny the Knight’s Cross (one of the highest German awards for valor) and promoted him to Sturmbannführer (Major). Heinrich Himmler, who personally disliked and distrusted Skorzeny, seized the opportunity to raise the profile of the SS and to suggest that the success of the Gran Sasso raid was entirely due to the SS. As a result, it would be Skorzeny who led the Waffen-SS operation that Hitler envisioned for the Battle of the Bulge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles River Editors
• Release date: Oct 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822613607

Reviews for Operation Greif

[Sybrina Heine Knorr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I rated this book as just three stars - just OK, because there wasn’t a lot of new information or even detailed information that had not been published before. I may have given it a higher review if the book was not butchered by the person reading it. I wish that whoever hires these individuals to read these books had at least a basic knowledge of the topic they are reading about.

This person not only butchers every German word or term, of which there are a lot, but also butchers French, Italian, and even some English words and I believe English is this person’s first language. For example, the word “grenadier” it was pronounced wrong every time, and it seemed like it was almost pronounced wrong in a different way at each occasion it was used.

If you are a lover of this type of history and know how these words, and locations are supposed to be pronounced, this is going to be a very tough listen for you.