Book Review: D-Day Deception Operation Fortitude and the Normandy Invasion

WW ll, D-Day. The beaches of Normandy.

Germany had the home field for this battle. They had constructed an almost impregnable line of shore defenses, stretching from the southern tip of Spain up to northern Norway. They were prepared for an Allied invasion, no matter where it occurred. With all of that going for them, how did the allies manage to cross the English Channel and land an entire army on French soil? And, all of that happening with Germany watching them.

How did the allies manage to pull off an invasion against such overwhelming odds?

A large part of the D-Day victory was the result of an extensive and a well-organized deception. The Allies tricked Hitler into thinking the invasion was going to occur in a location and time, different from Normandy and June 6th. Actually, the invasion was set for June 5th, but bad weather forced the Allies to put if off for one day.

There were many aspects to the deception, but the focus deception before D-Day was a plan code named Operation Fortitude. Operation Fortitude was multiple faceted, with Fortitude North, designed to make Hitler fear an invasion might come through Norway. Fortitude South was intended to make Hitler think the invasion would occur at the Pas de Calais. Both North and South were designed to have Hitler looking anywhere other than Normandy. Fortitude South was based around a fictitious army being commanded by Gen. George S. Patton.

There is a great deal of debate about how effective Operation Fortitude actually was. D-Day Deception: Operation Fortitude and the Normandy Invasion spells out in great detail how the total operation worked.

Operation Fortitude was amazing in its scope and performance; however, it was only part of an intricate plan to fool Hitler. D-Day Deception: Operation Fortitude and the Normandy Invasion covers only one phase of that total deception. The author, Mary Kathryn Barbier covers the details of Fortitude very well. For WW ll buffs, who thrive on all of the details, D-Day Deception:

Operation Fortitude and the Normandy Invasion spells out how the effort lead to ultimate defeat of Germany. It is a very good read.

-- Review by William K.