Ghost Army During WWII

 

               

In 1944, the US created a "fake army" during World War II, but it was a top-secret, non-combat unit called the Ghost Army (23rd Headquarters Special Troops) whose mission was to deceive the enemy. The unit used creative tactics like inflatable tanks, fake radio transmissions, and pre-recorded sounds of battles to mislead German forces about the size and location of Allied troops. Their successful deceptions helped save Allied lives by diverting enemy attention and resources away from real fighting forces.  

How the Ghost Army worked:   

Visual deception: 

They used inflatable rubber tanks, jeeps, and even airplanes to create the illusion of large military divisions where none existed. 

Sonic deception:      

They used powerful loudspeakers to broadcast pre-recorded sounds of troop movements, construction, and combat to make their fake units seem real. 

Radio deception: 

The unit generated fake radio traffic, impersonating real units to create the impression of troop deployments and communication. 

Personnel deception: 

The unit also included fake headquarters with officers pretending to be higher-ranking than they were. 

Why the Ghost Army was created:

To save lives: 

The Ghost Army's main goal was to deceive the enemy, drawing their attention away from actual Allied troop movements and operations. 

To protect Allied forces: 

By creating illusions of large forces, they could trick the Germans into focusing their defenses and attacks on the wrong places. 

To avoid costly battles: 

Their tactics helped the Allies avoid unnecessary and costly engagements by misleading the enemy into fighting where the Allies wanted them to. 

Creative warfare: 

The unit was a unique application of psychological and creative warfare, using art, sound, and illusion to win battles rather than brute force.