The Skorzeny Papers

In The Skorzeny Papers, the author reveals the details of the post-World War II activities of former SS Commando Otto Skorzeny. Considered by British and American Allied forces as “the most dangerous man in Europe,” Skorzeny planned and led numerous daring missions throughout the war. The story in this book was extracted by Major Ganis from Skorzeny’s personal papers. The evidence reveals that Skorzeny gradually and methodically became involved in US intelligence and covert operations during the Cold War. But Skorzeny’s network had a greater point of destiny in November 1963, when it was utilized to carry out the most tragic mission in history.

This story would have been lost had Skorzeny not kept meticulous records of his businesses and contacts, which were fronts for US covert activity. In the end, The Skorzeny Papers reveal the intriguing web of secret organizations and people linked to the events culminating in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Major Ralph P. Ganis is a native of North Carolina. Prior to writing The Skorzeny Papers, Ganis was a noted Jesse James historian and authored several books and articles on the James-Younger Gang. His historic revelations in Uncommon Men: A Secret Network of Jesse James Revealed resulted in Ganis receiving the coveted Perry Award, and his book Desperate Measures: Jesse James and the Klan Battles of Reconstruction was cited as “ground breaking” by Duke University and assessed into their archives. Major Ganis has also served as a consultant on numerous documentaries and a Hollywood film on Jesse James. In 1994, Ganis was the first recipient of the Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award for excellence in research supporting an intelligence study, given by the National Defense University, Defense Intelligence Agency and personally presented to him by the Chief Historian of the United States. Major Ganis earned a BA in History from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense University, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Major Ganis is a veteran of three services: the USMC, the U.S. Army, and the United States Air Force. He participated in Operation Just Cause (Panama Invasion), 1st Gulf War, the Global War on Terror and the 2nd Gulf War.