2. Operation Fortitude: D-Day’s Dummy Army
Prior to the D-Day invasion in WWII, the Allies employed Operation Fortitude to mislead the Nazis about the invasion’s location. This elaborate ruse involved creating a fictitious First United States Army Group (FUSAG) under General George S. Patton, complete with inflatable tanks, dummy landing craft, and fake radio traffic. These deceptive measures convinced the Germans that the main attack would occur at Calais, leading them to misplace their forces and directly aiding the success of the Normandy landings. Details can be found at The National WWII Museum.
