Deception: World War II

World War II begins with a deadly deception inside a Polish radio station. The early years of the war see deception in its infancy, from code breaking, glamorous spies, fake bombing sites and even inflatable tanks. Operation Himmler and the Gleiwitz Incident, M Rooms, The Enigma Machine, A Force, Q-Sites and Josephine Baker are some of the fascinating stories discussed.

By 1942, deception has become extremely sophisticated. Entire American arms factories are disguised as towns, double agents manipulate the enemy, but the most cunning operation uses a deceased homeless man to trick the entire Nazi leadership about the Normandy invasion. Operation California, Operation Mincemeat, Operation Uranus and the fake sabotage of De Havilland Factory.

Technology is used to deceive the enemy. Radio and transmitters spread false information. While a Ghost Army tricks entire enemy forces through using sound effects. Black Radio, Operation Bodyguard, Operation Fortitude, Operation Quicksilver, Operation Copperhead and Virginia Hall are all discussed.

With the war clearly swinging toward the Allies, both sides still use some masterful deceptions to confuse and trick the other. The immediate post-war period sees the US and Soviet Union begin a deadly game of espionage in the race for atomic supremacy. Operation Bagration, Deception at Leyte Gulf, Operation Greif, Operation Berezino and Atomic Spies are discussed.