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Question
#63357. Sabine06
asks:
Have there been any notable instances in the history of warfare where enemy codes have been incorrectly decrypted resulting, for example, in the troops being sent to the wrong place?
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mementoflash
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I know the Allies laid many "false clues" that caused the Nazis to think that the invasion would take occur in places other than Normandy.
One I remember was dressing a dead body up in an officer's uniform and then handcuffing a briefcase full of bogus classified documents meant to mislead the Nazis.
This dead body was then thrown into the ocean from an Allied boat so the currents would have it wash up on a beach occupied by the Germans.
Mar 11 06, 5:48 PM
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Baloo55th
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If the code was a word substitution one (words being changed for other words or numbers), the possibilty could arise. If it was a letter substitution one (where each letter is changed according to a system - more or less complicatedly depending on the age of the cipher), doubtful as that would lead to gibberish rather than misleading info. Early codes were far simpler (obviously) and sometimes did include simple word substitution. No-one above the age of about 10 would use that method now and expect to get away with it for long. Actually, the body was washed up in Spain, where the 'neutral' Spanish admin would pass anything over to the Germans almost immediately for a quick read before it was handed back to the British. That way, they knew it had been received. On a German occupied coast, they wouldn't know as easily.
Mar 11 06, 6:05 PM
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xfacilitatorx
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The History Channel has a wonderful program that airs frequently regarding the situation Mementoflash (seen it have you, Memento) has written about. If you can, watch it.
This is the most successful campaign of misinformation in history unless you take into account the modern-day media and all the drivel they misinform us about daily.
Mar 12 06, 3:40 PM
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mementoflash
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Actually I haven't seen that program, will keep my eyes out for it though.
However, I did once read a book about it.
Mar 12 06, 4:13 PM
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xfacilitatorx
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Quite informative. Lots of vintage film etc.
Mar 12 06, 4:25 PM
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