World War II “Ghost Corps” wins Congressional Gold Medal

Nearly 80 years after World War II, members of America’s secret service are being praised for the clever tactics they used to save tens of thousands of lives.

The group, known as the “Ghost Corps,” used inflatable vehicles and Hollywood-level special effects to mislead the Germans about Allied war plans.

President Joe Biden signed a bill granting the Ghost Army Congress’ highest honor in 2022.

Three elderly veterans will be recognized at an event in Congress on Thursday.

Seymour Nussenbaum, a 100-year-old New Jersey native, is one of three Ghost Army soldiers to be honored in person by Congress. He will be joined by 99-year-old John Christman and 100-year-old Bernard Bluestein.

Like many of the group’s members, Mr. Nussenbaum graduated from art school. Other participants were from advertising and public relations companies.

“It was like putting on a huge production,” Nussenbaum, now 100, told The Associated Press. “In some cases, people pretend to be generals and walk around town wearing generals’ uniforms.”

“Our mission was to deceive the enemy,” he added. “To put on a big performance.”

The Ghost Army included approximately 1,100 soldiers from the 23rd Headquarters Special Forces, which operated in Western Europe, and 200 soldiers from the 3133rd Special Signal Company in Italy.

Over the course of more than 20 deception operations, the Ghost Army used costumes and props, as well as a large fleet of inflatable tanks, trucks, and aircraft, to confuse German forces about the size and location of the Allied forces. forced the redeployment of troops. To other parts of the front line.

In a 1945 mission known as Operation Viersen, members of the Ghost Army fooled German troops into attempting to cross the Rhine with two divisions (40,000 men) 10 miles (16 km) from the actual crossing point. I succeeded in making you believe that.

To do so, the unit set up hundreds of inflatable trucks and tanks, played the sounds of troop movements over loudspeakers, and simulated military radio communications.

Additionally, some members posed as military commanders in areas where they were known to be detected by German spies. In the end, the actual Rhine crossing ended with minimal resistance.

“I think we were successful because the Germans opened fire,” Bluestein told the Washington Post. “We convinced them they were real.”

After the war, the U.S. Army credited the Ghost Army with saving the lives of 15,000 to 30,000 soldiers between May 1944 and the end of the war a year later. However, the mission remained classified until 1996.

A lobbying effort led by author and film producer Rick Beyer ultimately ended when President Biden signed legislation awarding the units the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’s highest award, in 2022.

“I just want to make sure it’s not forgotten,” Bayer told The Associated Press. “I think there’s a lot of ingenuity and creativity on the battlefield.”