Preparations are underway to mark the 80th anniversary next month of one of the most important events of World War Two, the Allied invasion of Normandy – an operation generally known as D-Day. 133,000 soldiers were landed in Nazi-occupied France in a move that would later liberate the whole country and achieve victory in Western Europe.
The Allied troops departed from the South and South West coast of Britain, and landed on a series of beaches in Normandy on 6 June 1944. But to ensure success, there was an elaborate deception plan, involving East Kent, to mislead the Nazis about the actual location of the invasion, and this was a key factor in the triumph of D-Day itself.
Operation Fortitude South
The deception plan was known as Operation Fortitude South, which aimed to reinforce the belief among the German military commanders that the invasion would take place in the Pas-de-Calais region, across the shortest sea crossing of the English Channel, from the port of Dover in Kent. This would ensure that German troops were concentrated in the Calais area, leaving the actual invasion target much less well defended.
The deception involved the creation of a fake army – the fictitious First United States Army Group (FUSAG) under the command of General George Patton, who were supposedly based at Dover. To convince the Germans of their preparations to invade, dummy landing craft, inflatable tanks and fake vehicles were constructed from scaffolding tubes, wood, canvas and barrels. These were placed all around Dover and the surrounding areas in East Kent, and looked very convincing from a distance or from the air, really creating the illusion that the Allies were preparing to move.
Fake radio messages
Most of the Allied troops preparing for D-Day were based along the South coast in Dorset and Hampshire. However, there were actual British and Canadian troops based at Dover in the months leading up to the invasion, to give the illusion of troops preparing for an invasion. During the Spring of 1944, these soldiers worked around the clock in the underground tunnels at Dover Castle, sending numerous fake coded radio messages, to simulate the plans of FUSAG preparing for an operation in the Calais region. The deception was also backed up by the use of double agents, who were fed information about the fake invasion location, which they passed onto the Nazi commanders.
The deception plan’s success
Operation Fortitude South was a great success, and the Germans continued to believe in the existence of the fictitious FUSAG and that Calais was still vulnerable to attack, even two months after D-Day. It was a believable ploy, as it was the route Adolf Hitler had planned to use in reverse, with his aborted attempt to invade Great Britain. As a result, the Nazis kept vital troops away from the main fighting front in Normandy, which undoubtedly saved thousands of Allied soldiers’ lives.
Dover Castle’s role in World War Two
The present Dover Castle has defended the coast since the 12th Century, having been built by King Henry II as a fortress. The castle is known as the “Key to England” as it has played such an important strategic role in guarding the English Channel over the centuries. In the 19th Century, a network of underground tunnels was built in the cliffs underneath the Castle, which were used as barracks for soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars. In World War Two, these underground tunnels were used as a military headquarters. During 1940 they played a central role in Operation Dynamo, the rescue operation by the Royal Navy to manage the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk, using hundreds of “Little Ships”.
The tunnels were expanded and also used as an underground hospital, known as Annexe. This operated as a Main Dressing Station, where casualties were received and stabilised before being moved to hospitals further inland.
Today, a visit to the Castle can include an immersive exhibition of the Secret Wartime Tunnels and the Underground Hospital, to experience and learn more about the vital part played by this iconic fortress.
Kent’s World War Two heritage
As the closest county to mainland Europe, Kent played a key role throughout the Second World War, particularly in the air and at sea. There are many interesting sites to explore in East Kent, including Dover Castle, as well as the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, the Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge, and the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum at the former RAF Manston.
A tailor-made private guided tour itinerary can be planned for you, including transport around the key sites as needed. Get in touch to discuss your requirements for a fascinating sightseeing tour with an accredited local Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
Brilliant Claire - very good😀