
The Army that Never Was
George S. Patton and the Deception of Operation Fortitude
- 352 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The full, dramatic story behind Operation Fortitude—the biggest subterfuge of World War II—and the plan to mislead the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Pas-de-Calais. On May 29th, 1944, General George S. Patton gave a speech in the southeast of England to the men of the U.S. Army where he spoke of the American desire to win and of how losing was hateful to Americans. As he rose to his crescendo, he said how much he "pitied those sons of bitches we are going up against—by God, I do." On that same day, General Omar Bradley gave a calmer speech in Somerset, England, to the men under his command about how much rested on the upcoming invasion of northern France and how vital their role was in achieving victory. Apart from the very different tones of the speeches reflecting the opposite character of the two army commanders, there was another big difference. Bradley was speaking to men who in a little over a week would be splashing ashore on the beaches of Normandy. Patton was addressing an army that didn't exist. The Army That Never Was tells the story of the biggest deception operation of World War II: the plan to mislead the Germans into thinking that the invasion of Europe would come at Pas-de-Calais instead of Normandy—by inventing an entirely fake army unit during Operation Fortitude. Full of fascinating characters from the American, British, and German forces, this compelling and propulsive narrative explores one of the most remarkable stories of World War II.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Acknowledgments
- Prologue
- Chapter 1: Decision
- Chapter 2: Deception
- Chapter 3: XX: Double Cross
- Chapter 4: Bodyguard
- Chapter 5: Geheimdienst
- Chapter 6: First US Army Group
- Chapter 7: Patton
- Chapter 8: Shepperton
- Chapter 9: Scotland
- Chapter 10: More Tricks
- Chapter 11: Reactions
- Chapter 12: Standing By
- Chapter 13: The Day
- Chapter 14: Deception Continues
- Chapter 15: Evaluation
- Epilogue
- Photographs
- Appendix 1: The Order of Battle – Allied Army Structure
- About the Author
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Copyright