Hall.

This is coolbert:

"During the war, the Brenner Pass was of vital importance to the Axis powers as a supply route to the Mediterranean."

Here from the files of the CIA, thanks to the tip from Jungle Trader, the Second World War [WW2] heroics of an OSS officer, Roderick Stephen Hall.

[OSS of course the forerunner to the CIA! ]

"Remembering OSS’ Heroes: Roderick Stephen Hall and the Brenner Pass Assignment"

An officer of the OSS, most famous for a sabotage mission during WW2, Hall a man most suited for the mission.

A mission in the Italian Alps. Those alps - - the mountainous terrain and the climate historically of themselves posing a more serious threat and danger to a military force than the enemy.

A mission by Hall, the object was to interdict the German supply route through the Brenner Pass. That arterial highway connecting northern Italy with southern Germany.

Hall, a man possessing that absolutely correct combination of "skill sets" that made him perhaps uniquely qualified for the mission.

Hall combining that proper combination of:

* Military skills - - "military demolitions, mapping, reconnaissance, communications".

* A man with a high degree of intellect.

* Young, physically fit, unmarried, an "Expert rifle and pistol shot"

* Accustomed "to living in the open under all conditions".

* Adept at winter sports, mountaineering, etc.

* "Familiar with the Val Ampezzo" and the surrounding countryside. Had actually traveled, hiked, and climbed the Italian Alps - - the vicinity of the Brenner Pass.

Hall envisioned the mission as a one-man enterprise. Himself being dropped by parachute with supplies and explosives - - leave the rest to him. Sabotage to the greatest extent possible bridges, roads, tunnels, etc, vicinity of the Brenner Pass, making the life of the German as miserable as possible.

The go-it-alone approach as advocated by Hall not transpiring. Hall leading a team of saboteurs in the Italian Alps, his mission having some success.

Hall as other before him finally succumbing in part due to the mountainous terrain and severe alpine climate - - that impossible to predict conditions of cold, snow, wind, blizzard-white-out, etc. Captured by the German, finally either executed or a feigned suicide.

"Tired, frostbitten, and hungry, he was caught in a blizzard and collapsed in the snow in Campo, a suburb of Cortina". [Cortina has been the site of the Winter Olympics!!]

Again, historically - - winter warfare in the mountains of Italy and the Alps in particular being especially dangerous for all participants. Consider the case of the Dulcinian partisans - - the year is 1305!!

"The winter of 1305 was particularly cold and the pressure from the Catholic troops and the inhabitants of the valley was particularly effective so Margaret of Trento [Margharita di Trank] decided to lead another march through the mountains to escape the siege."

That combination of cold, hunger, severe deprivation causing more casualties than enemy action! What the enemy cannot do the mountains and the cold can!

coolbert.