Why Did the Mossad Hire a Nazi Assassin?

In the 1960s, Israel's Mossad hired a former (and unapologetic) Nazi to prevent Egypt from developing a missile program with the help of former Nazi scientists. This sensitive operation required the help of an expert in psychological warfare and Mossad agent, Yosef Raanan.

Raanan supervised the operation to recruit former Nazi SS Lieutenant Colonel Otto Skorzeny, because of his personal connection to German scientists working on Egypt's missile program. But the recruitment of a Nazi who showed no remorse for his actions required caution, wile, and moral compromise. Although Israel was hesitant to work with a former Nazi, ultimately, Skorzeny’s insider knowledge was critical to successfully stopping a major threat to Israeli national security.

Related Articles

More From Shoah

Eli Eli - Hannah Szenes Senesh

“Eli Eli” Poem by Hannah Szenes (Chanah Senesh) Vocals by Carli Golbin Nemany Piano by Bruce…
Eli Eli - Hannah Szenes Senesh

Whose Child are You?

Holocaust survivor Josef Herschel tells of the horrific events of World War II and how his…
Whose Child are You?

Shtetl

The remarkable three-hour documentary tells the homecoming story of two elderly Polish-American…
Shtetl

George Dilsizian

Georges Dilsizian fled to France in the end of the 19th Century because of the Turkish…
George Dilsizian

Children of the Holocaust

When Germany came under Nazi rule, the country adopted as official policy a racist ideology…
Children of the Holocaust

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation