General Patton Deception
General Patton was removed from command in Sicily and secretly brought to England. General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces, had two jobs for Patton to do. Eisenhower had selected Patton to command the Third Army, which was still in the United States. He was to make the Third Army combat ready for deployment in France after the invasion. Patton’s command of the Third Army was kept secret. Eisenhower also wanted General Patton to be the commander of the First United States Army Group (FUSAG), a fictitious army built to fool the Germans.
From 1943, a skilled team worked to create the illusion of a large invasion force being massed in Kent. Dummy tanks and aircraft were built of inflatable rubber and placed in realistic looking "camps". Harbours were filled with fleets of mock landing craft. To German reconnaissance aircraft, it all looked real, even down to attempts at camouflage. Knowing that German intelligence would be trying to find out more, double agents planted stories and documents with known German spies. US General Patton was supposedly commander of the non-existent force. Pretend radio transmissions were broadcast, just as if a large army were busy being organised. …show more content…
The hoax was successful beyond the Allies wildest hopes.
German forces were concentrated in the Pas-de-Calais. The deception continued during and after D-Day. While the real invasion force landed in Normandy, Allied planes dropped silver foil to give the impression of massed planes and ships crossing from Dover. The Germans thought the Normandy landings were a diversion, and kept back reserves of tanks and troops in the Calais area - to counter what they thought would be the "real" invasion. By the time they realised, it was too late. The Normandy bridgehead had been secured, and Allied troops were fighting their way across northern
France.
Diary January 26
Called on Ike at office and found I am to command Third Army. All are novices and in support of Bradley's First Army-not such a good job, but better than nothing.... Well, I have an Army and it is up to me. "God show the right." As far as I can remember, this is my twenty-seventh start from zero since entering the U.S. Army. Each time I have made a success of it, and this one must be the biggest.
February 20, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
Yesterday I went into Butch's room and ran into the whole press, so I just told them I was a ghost and they admitted every one in town had seen me, no one would admit it. I wish I could stop being incognito but really it makes no difference as I am a very apparent entity.
March 6, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
This damned secrecy thing is rather annoying particularly as I doubt if it fools any one. Every time I make a speech I have to say now remember you have not seen me- a voice crying in the wilderness.
Diary June 4, 1944
All of us went to church. I am awfully restless and wish I were leading the assault.
June 4, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
Don't get excited when the whistle blows. I am not in the opening kick off.
From 1943, a skilled team worked to create the illusion of a large invasion force being massed in Kent. Dummy tanks and aircraft were built of inflatable rubber and placed in realistic looking "camps". Harbours were filled with fleets of mock landing craft. To German reconnaissance aircraft, it all looked real, even down to attempts at camouflage. Knowing that German intelligence would be trying to find out more, double agents planted stories and documents with known German spies. US General Patton was supposedly commander of the non-existent force. Pretend radio transmissions were broadcast, just as if a large army were busy being organised. …show more content…
The hoax was successful beyond the Allies wildest hopes.
German forces were concentrated in the Pas-de-Calais. The deception continued during and after D-Day. While the real invasion force landed in Normandy, Allied planes dropped silver foil to give the impression of massed planes and ships crossing from Dover. The Germans thought the Normandy landings were a diversion, and kept back reserves of tanks and troops in the Calais area - to counter what they thought would be the "real" invasion. By the time they realised, it was too late. The Normandy bridgehead had been secured, and Allied troops were fighting their way across northern
France.
Diary January 26
Called on Ike at office and found I am to command Third Army. All are novices and in support of Bradley's First Army-not such a good job, but better than nothing.... Well, I have an Army and it is up to me. "God show the right." As far as I can remember, this is my twenty-seventh start from zero since entering the U.S. Army. Each time I have made a success of it, and this one must be the biggest.
February 20, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
Yesterday I went into Butch's room and ran into the whole press, so I just told them I was a ghost and they admitted every one in town had seen me, no one would admit it. I wish I could stop being incognito but really it makes no difference as I am a very apparent entity.
March 6, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
This damned secrecy thing is rather annoying particularly as I doubt if it fools any one. Every time I make a speech I have to say now remember you have not seen me- a voice crying in the wilderness.
Diary June 4, 1944
All of us went to church. I am awfully restless and wish I were leading the assault.
June 4, 1944
Letter George Smith Patton to Beatrice Patton
Don't get excited when the whistle blows. I am not in the opening kick off.