A couple of post-war fashion designers, set designers, set dressers, artists and sound designers came out of that organization. Their deception efforts go far deeper than some rubber tanks and fake radio traffic. George Patton, fresh from his leadership debacle in Sicily, was made commanding general of FUSAG, the First US Army Group, the command headquarters of the false army created by the 23rd. Patton went so far as to meet with civilian leadership in FUSAG’s operating area in the UK to assure them that the encampment was temporary and the area would return to normal after a while.
The entire task of the 23rd/FUSAG was to convince the German high command that a very large army was preparing to cross the channel at the Pas de Calais and that Normandy was a feint. They were successful as the Germans kept their panzer divisions north of Normandy near the Pas until it was too late.
This success redeemed Patton’s reputation and he was given command of the Third Army.
See “Ghost Army” by Beyer and Sayles and “Bodyguard of Lies” by Anthony Cave Brown for more complete information on this.
“In war, the truth is so precious that she must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies.” - W. Churchill
A couple of post-war fashion designers, set designers, set dressers, artists and sound designers came out of that organization. Their deception efforts go far deeper than some rubber tanks and fake radio traffic. George Patton, fresh from his leadership debacle in Sicily, was made commanding general of FUSAG, the First US Army Group, the command headquarters of the false army created by the 23rd. Patton went so far as to meet with civilian leadership in FUSAG’s operating area in the UK to assure them that the encampment was temporary and the area would return to normal after a while.
The entire task of the 23rd/FUSAG was to convince the German high command that a very large army was preparing to cross the channel at the Pas de Calais and that Normandy was a feint. They were successful as the Germans kept their panzer divisions north of Normandy near the Pas until it was too late.
This success redeemed Patton’s reputation and he was given command of the Third Army.
See “Ghost Army” by Beyer and Sayles and “Bodyguard of Lies” by Anthony Cave Brown for more complete information on this.
“In war, the truth is so precious that she must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies.” - W. Churchill