BOOKS & MORE: Liberation in Mogadishu

"Mogadishu" has become a myth in the history of counterterrorism. At the same time, it is the first evidence that the German concept of the GSG 9 in response to new challenges of political violence after 1968 was on point. And it is the greatest success that Ulrich Wegener - as commander of the GSG 9 and as the person in charge in Mogadishu - could bring home. "Operation Mogadishu" is a book that succinctly describes what happened in 1977.

The GSG 9 was the response to the tragically failed hostage rescue in 1972 in Munich, where many Israeli athletes had to die because the German police had no tactical instrument to successfully deal with terrorists. After that, the Border Guard Group 9 was established ...

"Operation Mogadishu" is a good overview of the history of that time. It was first published by the British Osprey publisher, known for its high-quality military literature. "Storming Flight 181" was the English original title, which Maven Press from Flensburg has now made available in German, supplemented by additional statements from Jürgen Vietor, then the co-pilot of the hijacked plane.

Ulrich Wegener in front of the team of liberators - HERE on SPARTANAT the obituary of the extraordinary officer. Or how an Israeli anti-terrorism expert, who was friends with him, praised his extraordinary character, as he was "one of the few German officers who built and shaped a unit in the Federal Republic."

Osprey is known for their well-illustrated books. More photos would have been nice and maybe more unfamiliar material. Maps like this one, however, help to better understand the events of that time. That's why people love Osprey.

And where images are lacking, Osprey relies on illustrators. The end of a terrorist in the cockpit of the "Landshut" ... Che shirt ruined.

Happy end in Germany in 1977. It's good when the good guys win.

CONCLUSION: Those who are already experts on Mogadishu will find few surprises in the book. For everyone else, it is a compact overview of the events of that time and a good introduction to an important event in German history.

"Operation Mogadishu: Die Entführung von Lufthansa-Flug 181″ Landshut" by Chris McNab, Maven Press, Flensburg 2016, 140 pages, Euro 19.90