During World War II, the Gran Sasso raid (codenamed Unternehmen Eiche, literally "Operation Oak", by the German military in September 1943 was an operation by German paratroopers and Waffen-SS commandos to break out the prison escape of the deposed Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini from custody in the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif. The airborne operation was personally ordered by Adolf Hitler, approved by General Kurt Student and planned and executed by Major Harald Mors.
Veteran purchased photograph of a glider pilot who was part of the opertation. A death card of this glider comrade Remig Wengenmaier who was later killed in action in April 1944. He was also part of the operation.
