Fortitude: The D-Day Deception Campaign

by Roger Hesketh

Behind the astonishing success of D-Day was the most sophisticated deception scheme ever devised. The objective was to persuade the enemy that the long-awaited landings would take place in the Pas-de-Calais, and that any attack in Normandy would be nothing more than a diversionary feint that could be safely ignored. Hundreds of bogus agent reports were manufactured, an entire US Army Group was invented, false radio signals transmitted, and inflatable tanks, dummy bombers built of balsa wood and canvas landing craft were positioned where they could be photographed by the Luftwaffe. Each itemed an imminent amphibious assault from Dover, across the shortest stretch of the English Channel. Operation Fortitude was an extraordinary success. In this volume, the classified official history of the entire operation, written by Roger Hesketh as head of the team of D-Day deception specialists, has been declassified and released.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

513 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mark Bowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The official report on Operation Fortitude; you can't get a more authentic account.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the epic task of convincing the Germans that the Allies main landing would not be at Normandy and covers the creation of the a fake Army Group under Patton to land at the shortest distance across the English Channel

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent detail of the decption portrayed upon the Axis. Quite the most comprehensive [specific] book that I hve read upon this particular subject.

Worth every penny... thanks.

[Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was a tough book to read. I was not impressed with it. I understand that it was mostly like a military report and very difficult to follow.