Military deception has been used throughout history to thwart the enemy during battle. The Art of War by Sun Tzu discusses strategies that emphasize the concept of deception as a critical war tactic. Military deception is considered a type of psychological warfare and employs many unconventional methods including visual deceptions and misinformation. Before and during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II, one of the largest deceptions in military history was executed. By using this large-scale deception, did the Allies misleading of Nazi intelligence and leaders actually help them win at Normandy against Hitler?
The events that led up to the D-Day invasion are of critical importance in understanding the choices that were made regarding …show more content…
Timing and secrecy were critical in saving lives during the invasion as well as misdirection. The importance of the deceptions that were laid out before D-Day was extremely significant in the tedious foothold the Allies would establish. Eisenhower had decided on the date of the invasion in May. It would be June 5th or 6th because “the moon will rise late and help the landing by the parachutists and airborne troops (22,000) and second, low tide at dawn will uncover the obstacles and mines that Rommel had put down…” For the paratroopers, H-Hour was midnight on June 6, and they landed without meeting any organized resistance. Although some drowned in the anti-invasion flooded areas made by Rommel, it is thought that 18,000 men succeeded in their missions of disabling the Germans communications and capturing bridges. Minesweepers swept the channel prior to landings and were protected by balloons. The Allies bombed the beaches prior to the landings and the landings were given substantial air cover and support fire from ships. The first landing is at 6:30 a.m. on the American Utah sector, and it took the Germans by surprise. Rommel later tries to drive the Allies back after the encroachment, but “he cannot rely on the 15th Army...Hitler himself has forbidden its use …show more content…
However, there are risks and deceptions are dangerous for many reasons. Is the enemy really fooled and will they fall for the bait? It is a gamble that many say is not worth the risk. But most will agree if being deceptive can save lives, then it is worth the effort. How could military leaders move millions of troops and equipment while keeping it a secret? Without the power of deception, most of the misinformation would have been found out by the enemy before the invasion even occurred. Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley knew the importance of secrecy, “The best that we could hope for was to deceive them as the where and when the assault would come, so that they would prepare to meet us in the wrong place.” But, due to the enemy’s knowledge of an invasion and the preparations that were made, the best-kept secret was the timing and location of the event. The knowledge of those two things was almost discovered by the enemy. In May, a window in a war office in London was left open and 12 copies of the real plan (of invading at Normandy) blew out of the window. 11 copies were found, but an unknown man collected the twelfth and was never found. Additionally, a briefcase with the real plans was left on a train, but the station master found it and kept it locked up in his safe until an Allied officer came to get it. And lastly, but most oddly, the
The events that led up to the D-Day invasion are of critical importance in understanding the choices that were made regarding …show more content…
Timing and secrecy were critical in saving lives during the invasion as well as misdirection. The importance of the deceptions that were laid out before D-Day was extremely significant in the tedious foothold the Allies would establish. Eisenhower had decided on the date of the invasion in May. It would be June 5th or 6th because “the moon will rise late and help the landing by the parachutists and airborne troops (22,000) and second, low tide at dawn will uncover the obstacles and mines that Rommel had put down…” For the paratroopers, H-Hour was midnight on June 6, and they landed without meeting any organized resistance. Although some drowned in the anti-invasion flooded areas made by Rommel, it is thought that 18,000 men succeeded in their missions of disabling the Germans communications and capturing bridges. Minesweepers swept the channel prior to landings and were protected by balloons. The Allies bombed the beaches prior to the landings and the landings were given substantial air cover and support fire from ships. The first landing is at 6:30 a.m. on the American Utah sector, and it took the Germans by surprise. Rommel later tries to drive the Allies back after the encroachment, but “he cannot rely on the 15th Army...Hitler himself has forbidden its use …show more content…
However, there are risks and deceptions are dangerous for many reasons. Is the enemy really fooled and will they fall for the bait? It is a gamble that many say is not worth the risk. But most will agree if being deceptive can save lives, then it is worth the effort. How could military leaders move millions of troops and equipment while keeping it a secret? Without the power of deception, most of the misinformation would have been found out by the enemy before the invasion even occurred. Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley knew the importance of secrecy, “The best that we could hope for was to deceive them as the where and when the assault would come, so that they would prepare to meet us in the wrong place.” But, due to the enemy’s knowledge of an invasion and the preparations that were made, the best-kept secret was the timing and location of the event. The knowledge of those two things was almost discovered by the enemy. In May, a window in a war office in London was left open and 12 copies of the real plan (of invading at Normandy) blew out of the window. 11 copies were found, but an unknown man collected the twelfth and was never found. Additionally, a briefcase with the real plans was left on a train, but the station master found it and kept it locked up in his safe until an Allied officer came to get it. And lastly, but most oddly, the