(tense string music)
- [Soldier] We've tapped into their radios.
We can confirm two divisions.
- [General] Confirmed. We have an aerial visual.
- [Soldier] Copy?
- [General] Yes, yes, we can hear them moving in.
- [Host] Only none of what the Germans
thought they could see or hear was real.
During World War II, a secret division of the US Army,
now known as the Ghost Army, conducted over 20
tactical operations, which resulted in
saving tens of thousands of lives.
The mission?
To trick the enemy into thinking that their unit
of 1,000 men was actually two divisions of 30,000 men.
But the Ghost Army wasn't made up of traditional soldiers.
The majority were actors, designers, advertisers,
and artists who had been recruited from the top
art and design schools around the country.
And this army of artists used their creativity
for an infantry of illusion.
Engineers developed inflatable tanks
which the artists would then paint.
These tanks could condense down to fit into a portable bag
and inflate on demand, much like a bouncy castle.
Audio engineers used large speakers to play sound effects
of tanks and marching soldiers,
which had been pre-recorded at Fort Knox.
This marching army could be heard from miles away.
Along with fake radio messages sent into the signals
of the enemies, they would also send actors
dressed as generals and officers into local towns
to spread false information and rumors.
It wasn't until 1996, when information about the Ghost Army
was declassified that the world finally knew
about these masters of misdirection,
the unsung heroes of World War II.