On occasion, such as now when I'm tending to a husband recovering from surgery and low on mental energy, I may turn to a contributing author with a like mind and a love for WW2 research. I noticed this post by my kindred spirit friend Julia McCurdy Gimbel (Julia Writes WWII on Facebook) about the Ghost Army. These were legitimate bad ass guys who outwitted the enemy not with guns and ammo, but with strategy and diversionary tactics. There are several books out there on the subject, so just go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble to find what you would like to read. I will have some interesting news to share of my own soon about the project, but I need the official go ahead. For now, enjoy the post:
THE GHOST ARMY, by contributor Julia Writes WWII
Think for a moment about the quieter sounds of war: troops moving together with equipment rattling at their sides, soldiers cussing and talking as their hammer blows fell while constructing temporary shelters, radio messages sent discussing plans for troop movement, and tanks rolling across uneven stretches of earth.
What if these sounds were all part of an elaborate ruse to trick the Germans?
In summer 1944, a handpicked group of 1100 men from the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops took on a special mission: they would become an Army Repertory Theater of sorts, conjuring up whole headquarters, convoys, and large divisions out of thin air.
“Its complement was more theatrical than military,” noted the unit’s official history. “It was like a traveling road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits.”
They were soldiers to be sure, and their work often took them dangerously close to the front lines, but their weapons were less often rifles than life-sized stage props. The unit was armed with inflatable tanks, trucks, and even planes that were staged and visible to enemy reconnaissance. Special effects recordings of infantry units were blasted out of huge speakers mounted on trucks to give the impression that a much larger unit was on site. Radio operators hammed it up over the wires to send confusing and fake messages to lead the enemy on wild goose chases.
The men hit the local cafes, relishing in their actor roles as they embellished stories for any spies that might be lurking nearby.
The Ghost Army staged over 20 distractions including helping the Allies as they moved inland from the landing at Normandy, supporting Patton as he pressed through France, and providing radio distraction for the relief effort in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Their most dazzling feat, Operation Viersen, came in March 1945 along the Rhine River where they tricked the Germans away from the actual site where the U.S. 9th Army was crossing. They were credited with saving thousands of American lives.
The story of the Ghost Army was kept secret for more than 50 years. Now there are many ways you can find out more about this amazing unit. Below is a link for the trailer to the documentary “The Ghost Army” that can be seen on Amazon Prime – the clip has some great footage and interviews with members of the unit. And recently announced, Ben Affleck is currently working on a script to bring the story of the 23rd to the big screen.
A great website dedicated to this unit is the Ghost Army Legacy Project. If you’d like to learn more you can find the page at www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org
Here it the link for the movie trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=6g1H3GJqBkc
*The full length documentary for The Ghost Army is no longer viewable on PBS, but can be ordered on Amazon here: Ghost Army
THE GHOST ARMY, by contributor Julia Writes WWII
Think for a moment about the quieter sounds of war: troops moving together with equipment rattling at their sides, soldiers cussing and talking as their hammer blows fell while constructing temporary shelters, radio messages sent discussing plans for troop movement, and tanks rolling across uneven stretches of earth.
What if these sounds were all part of an elaborate ruse to trick the Germans?
In summer 1944, a handpicked group of 1100 men from the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops took on a special mission: they would become an Army Repertory Theater of sorts, conjuring up whole headquarters, convoys, and large divisions out of thin air.
“Its complement was more theatrical than military,” noted the unit’s official history. “It was like a traveling road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits.”
They were soldiers to be sure, and their work often took them dangerously close to the front lines, but their weapons were less often rifles than life-sized stage props. The unit was armed with inflatable tanks, trucks, and even planes that were staged and visible to enemy reconnaissance. Special effects recordings of infantry units were blasted out of huge speakers mounted on trucks to give the impression that a much larger unit was on site. Radio operators hammed it up over the wires to send confusing and fake messages to lead the enemy on wild goose chases.
The men hit the local cafes, relishing in their actor roles as they embellished stories for any spies that might be lurking nearby.
The Ghost Army staged over 20 distractions including helping the Allies as they moved inland from the landing at Normandy, supporting Patton as he pressed through France, and providing radio distraction for the relief effort in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Their most dazzling feat, Operation Viersen, came in March 1945 along the Rhine River where they tricked the Germans away from the actual site where the U.S. 9th Army was crossing. They were credited with saving thousands of American lives.
The story of the Ghost Army was kept secret for more than 50 years. Now there are many ways you can find out more about this amazing unit. Below is a link for the trailer to the documentary “The Ghost Army” that can be seen on Amazon Prime – the clip has some great footage and interviews with members of the unit. And recently announced, Ben Affleck is currently working on a script to bring the story of the 23rd to the big screen.
A great website dedicated to this unit is the Ghost Army Legacy Project. If you’d like to learn more you can find the page at www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org
Here it the link for the movie trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=6g1H3GJqBkc
*The full length documentary for The Ghost Army is no longer viewable on PBS, but can be ordered on Amazon here: Ghost Army
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