Book Review: The Ghost Army of World War II, How One … by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles (Four Stars)
Rarely, if ever, has there been a group of such a few men which had so great an influence on the outcome of a major campaign.
Most students of World War II are aware of Operation Fortitude, the massive deception to mislead the Germans about the true target of the D-Day landings. Most have never heard of the brigade-sized unit who employed props, radio signals, sound and theatrics to convince the enemy that American units were where they weren’t and vice versa. Unfortunately, it also confused some American units.
“You have to see into the mind of your adversary. You have to create for him a misleading picture of the operation to come. And you have to sell it to him with confidence.” General Wesley Clark
Drawn from personal diaries and reminisces as well as the official history of 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. Excellent maps and photographs. Padded with works of artists among the troop.
“On every block you can see at least one soldier surrounded by girls, leafing frantically through French-English dictionaries.”
As a Matter of Fancy 