Operation Zeppelin (deception plan)
| Operation Zeppelin | |
|---|---|
| Part of Operation Bodyguard | |
| Operational scope | Strategic |
| Planned | 1944 |
| Objective | German belief in an amphibious invasion of the Eastern Mediterranean. |
During World War II, Operation Zeppelin was a deception plan carried out by the Allies designed to depict a potential amphibious landing on Crete, western Greece, or the Romanian Black Sea coast. It was carried out in the time preceding the invasion of Normandy.[1]
Zeppelin was a complement to Operation Bodyguard, and was in support of Operation Overlord and Operation Dragoon.
Background
Zeppelin was a sub-plan of Operation Bodyguard, a broad strategic deception in support of the Allied landings in Normandy. Zeppelin formed only a small part of the overall plan (the bulk of which comprised Operation Fortitude). During early 1944, the Allies attempted to threaten invasions along the whole coast of Europe, from Norway through France and to the Mediterranean.
Planning
Planning for Zeppelin involved collaboration between British, American and Russian. According to the deception's storyline, Allied planners from Britain, America and Russia identified several potential landing sites before, in February 1944, settling on Crete and parts of Croatia with an invasion date of March 29 (picked because it was a full moon).[1]
References
Bibliography
- Hastedt, Glenn P.; Guerrier, Steven W. (2009). Spies, wiretaps, and secret operations : an encyclopedia of American espionage. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851098070.
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