Ghosts of the ETO: American Tactical Deception Units in the European Theater, 1944 - 1945

No history of the war in Europe has ever taken into account the actions of the men of the US 23rd Special Troops. These men took part in over 22 deception operations against the German Army. Some of these operations had tremendous impact upon how the battles in Europe were fought. The men who participated in these actions were sworn to secrecy for 50 years, and are only now willing to talk about their role.

The 23rd was composed of four main units. A signal deception unit to broadcast fake radio signals, an engineer camouflage unit to set up rubber dummies of tanks and trucks, a combat engineer unit to construct emplacements and provide local security, and a sonic deception company. The sonic unit was developed to fool German listening posts by playing audio recordings of various sounds, such as tanks moving up or bridges being built.

The 23rd was the only tactical deception unit of the American Army in World War ll combining all aspects of deception. This book also covers the birthplace of sonic deception: the Army Experimental Station at Pine Camp; and their smaller sister unit, the 3133rd Sonic Deception company that saw action for 14 days in Italy.

Jonathan Gawne is a leading military historian and is the author of the best selling Spearheading D Day and The US Army Photo Album (both published by Histoire & Collections and available from Casemate) as well as books in the Greenhill Books “GI Series”. He has contributed articles to numerous military magazines. He lives in Framingham, MA.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface

1. Military Deception
2. Developments in the United States
3. On to England
4. France and Operation ELEPHANT
5. Sonic Deception
6. Operation BRITTANY
7. Operation BREST
8. Operation BETTEMBOURG
9. Operation WILTZ
10. Artillery, Operation VASELINE, and Propaganda
11. Operation DALLAS
12. Operation ELSENBORN
13. Operation CASANOVA
14. Operation KOBLENZ and the Bulge
15. Operation KODAK
16. Operation METZ-I
17. Operation METZ-II
18. Operation L'EGLISE
19. Operation FLAZWEILER
20. Operation STEINSEL
21. Operation LANDONCILLERS
22. Operation WHIPSAW
23. Operation MERZIG
24. Operation LOCHNIVAR
25. Operation BOUZONVILLE
26. Operation VIERSEN
27. The 3133rd and the War in Italy
28. War's End and DP Camps
29. After the War

Appendix 1. The Correct Name of the 23rd
Appendix 2. Officers of the 23rd Special Troops
Appendix 3. Medal and Decorations Awarded in the 23rd Special Troops
Appendix 4. Table of Organization
Appendix 5. Patton and Deception
Appendix 6. Original Poop Sheets

Glossary
Select Bibliography
End Notes
Index