How a web of deception tricked Hitler and paved the way for the Normandy Landings

Deception has always been a key component in warfare, and was used to great effect during the Second World War.

Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation to disguise the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943.

And in the run-up to D-Day in June 1944, the Allies carried out a similar operation for Normandy.

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Operation Fortitude was made up of two main parts – one aimed at convincing the Germans the Allied invasion would come via Norway, while the other planned to persuade them it was coming via the Pas-de-Calais region in France.

The plan worked, and the Normandy Landings were a success.