Operation Fortitude
Published on Nov 25, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Operation Fortitude was the code name for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy (code named Bodyguard) during the build-up to the 1944 Normandy landings. Fortitude was divided into two sub-plans, North and South, with the aim of misleading the German high command as to the location of the imminent invasion.
Photo by englishsnow
The operation was intended to divert Axis attention away from Normandy and, after the invasion on June 6, 1944, to delay reinforcement by convincing the Germans that the landings were purely a diversionary attack.
-The operation occurred in the United Kingdom
-Based in Edinburgh and the South of England
-The invasion of allies was postponed until the next available time because of the incorrect combination of tides and lack of full moon
The planning of Operation Fortitude came under the London Controlling Section (LCS), a secret body set up to manage Allied deception strategy during the war. However, the execution of each plan fell to the various commanders, in the case of Fortitude this was Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. A special section, Ops (B), was established at SHAEF to handle the operation. The LCS retained responsibility for what was called "Special Means"; the use of diplomatic channels and double-agents.
Photo by whatsthatpicture
Fortitude was split into two parts, North and South, both with similar aims. Fortitude North was intended to convince the German high command that the Allies, staging out of Scotland, would attempt an invasion of occupied Norway. Fortitude South employed the same tactic, with the apparent objective being Pas de Calais.
Photo by Mark Seton
By September 28,1944, the allies had agreed to end the fortitude deception moving to operational deceptions in the field under the overall charge of OPS(B)
Photo by gbaku
Significance
-operation fortitude was the largest and most elaborate subsidiary operation of Operation Bodyguard
-if Germany knew the invasion would come at Normandy, they would have easily repelled the attack, but Operation Fortitude helped convince the to deal with false threats, and they were caught off guard
Photo by England
