Facts and Stories from WWII That We Won’t Find in History Books

26. Just Don’t Test Their Bluff

Operation Overlord, famously known as D-Day, worked for many reasons. While the Germans expected an attack near the Strait of Dover, the Allies targeted Normandy, where German defenses were less concentrated. The cornerstone of this deception was the creation of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, or the “Ghost Army.”

This unit, comprised of approximately 1,100 men, was equipped with inflatable tanks, cannons, jeeps, and other faux military equipment. Their mission was to simulate a real army’s presence, complete with fake radio transmissions, near Pas-De-Calais to draw German forces away from Normandy. Even King George VI participated in the charade by inspecting the Ghost Army.