Operation Oak it was the German military operation to rescue Benito Mussolini from imprisonment in 1943. The mission was executed by German paratroopers and SS commandos led by Otto Skorzeny. They successfully freed Mussolini from the Gran Sasso mountain hotel in Italy, where he was being held after his arrest by the Italian government.
Summary:
Name:Operation Eiche (Operation Oak)
Date: September 12, 1943
Goal: Rescue Mussolini
Leader:Otto Skorzeny
Result: Successful German commando operation; Mussolini restored as head of the Italian Social Republic under German control.