Did you know that some of the most important battles in World War II were fought with inflatable tanks, cardboard planes, and loudspeakers? In 1944, at the height of WWII, the Americans introduced a new unit to the battlefield – the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also known as the “Ghost Army”. The 23rd was comprised of 1,100 men, whose sole purpose was to deceive Axis commanders. |
The idea for this unit came from the 1942 Allied campaign in El-Alamein called Operation Bertram, in which British troops used fake plywood constructs to make jeeps look like tanks and tanks look like supply trucks. |
In May of 1944, the 23rd arrived in Britain and took part in deceiving the Germans into thinking that the D-Day invasion had begun in Pas-de-Calais, rather than Normandy. After that, they continued setting up inflatable “tanks”, dummy planes and vehicles, fictitious radio transmissions, and vehicle-mounted speakers that played pre-recorded sounds of battle and troops moving. |
Many of the soldiers of the 23rd were recruited from places such as art schools and advertising agencies, as well as engineers, designers, and architects. |
|
Not only would the 23rd‘s soldiers build mock battlefields, they would also disguise themselves as high-ranking officers and visit nearby towns, where they would discuss fabricated plans. |
The Ghost Army was so successful that, at one point, Axis propaganda reported a large Allied force in a place that had no soldiers at all. |
The Ghost Army was kept secret for many years, and its existence was only revealed over 40 years after the war had ended. To this very day, some of the unit’s works and methods are still kept classified. |
H/T: messynessychic.com |
The European History Quiz: How Much Do You Know?
This quiz will test your knowledge of some of the most significant events to ever take place within Europe's long and bloody history.
Discover How This Board Game Saved Thousands During WWII
Find out how a simple board game helped around 20,000 British prisoners escape from German camps during World War II.
Travel Back in Time to June 6, 1944. What Did it Look Like?
Discover a free archive of over 3,000 photos from the Invasion of Normandy
History Really Starts to Come Alive When You Add Color
If you love history then you'd better hold onto your hat. Discover a collection of 20 colorized historical photos alongside the original monochrome photos for reference
The Innovation That Helped the Allies Win World War II
In world War II Donald Bailey came up with an innovation that allowed the allies' tanks to cross bodies of water, and consequently win the war...
Quiz: Can You Answer These Trivia Questions about France?
A quiz about French history and culture
7 Conspiracy Stories that Turned Out to be True
These stories are shocking... and they turned out to be true!
16 Wonderful Japanese Ideas We Should All Start Copying
The Japanese are unique. Their ways seem perfectly designed to help the population live happy fruitful lives. Here are 16 cool Japanese things we should copy.
25 Incredible Facts About the Famous Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan struck fear into the hearts of his subjects during his reign, but there's a lot more to the man than meets the eye. Here are 25 intriguing facts.
Things You Don’t Know About History’s Famous Artifacts
Wow, history really is an endless treasure trove of knowledge!
20 Things Most People Think Are the Same, But Aren't!
These words are often mistaken for synonyms, but in reality they are nothing of the sort, because they refer to different things. Learn about 20 of them.,
The Apollo Program: A History of Manned Space Missions
Only 12 men have ever stepped foot on the moon. Find out more about their successful moon landings here!
This Cat Has Broken the Record for the Loudest Purr!
This Cat Has Purred Her Way Into the Record Books!
The Eerie, Spiritual, and Sometimes Fun History of Masks
Let’s get to know some of the most famous masks in history and the civilizations that created them.
9 ‘Current’ Words That Are Much Older Than You’d Guess
Hipster, Influencer and Dude - all these words sound so quintessentially modern, but you'd be surprised to learn how old they actually are.
Find Humor & Inspiration in These Douglas Adams Quotes
May you find inspiration and humor in these quotes by Douglas Adams.
Can You Guess the Meaning of These 20 Common Surnames?
We kind of take surnames for granted, as they are just passed down to us. But every name has an origin and meaning, and some might surprise you.
Beautiful! All Dog Lovers Can Relate to This Touching Poem
Any dog lover can relate to this touching poem by Jimmy Stewart about his beloved dog Beau. Send this poem to those you know who love dogs too.
The Most Successful Hoaxes In History
The world loves pranks and history has a trail of good and bad ones. Here are some of the most successful hoaxes ever pulled.
Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" are Much More Than Just Music
In this TED-Ed video, Betsy Schwarm explains just why it is that you should listen to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."
WATCH: Old Hollywood Legends Bring 'Uptown Funk' to Life
These vintage stars grooving to 'Uptown Funk' will make your day.
Here Are 18 Facts That Are Bound to Blow Your Mind!
Here are 18 amazing facts that you won't be forgetting anytime soon!
Can You Spot the Camouflaged Creatures in These Photos?
These wonderful animals have gone into hiding. Can you find them? If not, just click on the photo to reveal all!
Hark Back to Meiji-Era Japan With These Stunning Pictures
The Meiji Era was a time of great change for Japan, transforming from a feudal state into a capitalist, imperialist one. Take a look at these stunning pictures.
You Should Share This With Your Younger Family Members
This enlightening message highlights the state of the world and reminds the social media generation of something vitally important.
Wrapping Up the Major Events of 2022 in a 7-Minute Video
Another year has come to an end. Vox has edited 2022 in its entirety into a 7-minute video. Let's take a look.
Take a 4K, Vivid Walk Through the Streets of 1911 New York
Watching this 110 year old restored video if New York actually feels like a glimpse to a time long gone.
8 Weird and Wacky Failed Inventions from the Past
Here is a look at some weird and wacky inventions from the past that never quite took off despite their innovativeness.
These Couples Show Us That You're Never Too Old to Find Love
It’s never too late to find true love. These inspiring couples show one that love has no age limit.
98-Year-Old Gives a Brilliant Live Piano Performance!
American Singer Josh Turner's very talented grandmother-in-law gets a standing ovation for playing "How Great Thou Art" on the Piano.
10 Richest People From History You Should Know About
A look at 10 of the richest people that lived in history. From emperor Mansa Musa to Muammar Gaddafi, it presents the insane sums these people had.
20 Astounding Facts That Will Skew Your Perception of Time
These 20 mind-bending facts will show you just how warped your perception of time really is. Enjoy!
These 24 Fascinating Photographs Will Surprise & Amaze You
Here are 24 of the most amazing and surprising photographs ever seen on the internet!
Watch This Couple Go Through 60 Years of Aging...
This young couple found out with some magical help from talented makeup artists. The results are remarkable, and the ending filled my eyes with tears.
Her Mom With Alzheimer's Didn't Recognize Her, Until...
A loving daughter experiences a moment she thought she'd never have again.
Nostalgia: 50 Beautiful Faces We'll Never Forget...
Nostalgic faces from the golden ages to the modern ages.
10 Incredible People You Never Heard Of!
Here are 10 people who have, in their own ways, saved countless lives and at times, the entire planet. They deserve to be known.
8 Facts You Learned at School that Are No Longer True!
The passage of time leads things that were once accepted as facts to actually be proven as incorrect. Here are 8 supposed facts that aren’t really true.
History: The Full Story of Napoleon's Epic Defeat
The full story of the battles Napoleon fought that eventually lead to his ultimate defeat.
If You Like History You Will LOVE This Incredible Video!
Seeing history move right before our eyes teaches us so much about the last 2000 years!
Check Your Pockets Now! This Quarter Is Worth Thousands!
There's a quarter out there that is worth thousands of dollars. Here's what you need to look out for.
Fact or Fiction? Debunking History's Most Common Myths
Update your knowledge of the Middle Ages by learning the truth behind these 12 common myths.
These Photos Prove How Strange of a Country South Korea Is
The following images illustrate how strange of a place Korea is.
Museum of the Weird: 15 Fascinating Finds
Historical artifacts don't get weirder than this.
In the West, We Have Much to Learn From the East...
Eastern philosophy is vastly different to Western philosophy, and we all have much to learn from the schools of thought from that part of the world.
12 of the Most Inexplicably Weird Things Ever Discovered
In the world, a lot of discoveries often raise more questions than they answer. Here are 12 of the most inexplicably weird things and places ever found.
11 Surprising Things You Never Knew About the Titanic
We bet you didn’t know these surprising facts about the Titanic!