In a documentary premiered in the USA, the startling historical fact has been revealed that Hitler’s army was defeated during Second World War from the Ghost Army, which was created by 1,100 handpicked US artists. For triggering panic in the military of Nazi Germany during Second World War, US had taken the help of 1,100 handpicked artists cum soldiers, who kept on fooling enemy forces for eons by using subterfuges and eventually gained victory over them. This sensational yet historically true revelation has been unveiled in a documentary, which has been premiered by PBS in May 2013.
Movie unveils historical secret
The documentary brings into light the US Army's 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, nicknamed as Ghost Army, which consisted of talented actors, painters, fashion designers, photographers and several other illusion-spinners. The army remained in secret until 1996 and was observed by Rick Beyer, the director of The Ghost Army documentary by chance, in a Boston-area café, while he was visiting one of the unit's veterans. To know more about US Ghost Army, you can buy online content.
Art of war which saved thousands lives
According to Megan Garber, it was actor Douglas Fairbanks in whose mind the idea for creating Ghost Army came. Thus, this actor saved tens of thousands of lives by "taking the art of war wonderfully literally." The unit included minimalist painter Ellsworth Kelly, fashion designer Bill Blass, and photographer Art Kane, who captured Harlem's jazz greats in 1958 photograph and portraits of folk and rock legends from Bob Dylan to Rolling Stones. US army recruited Blass and his brothers from art schools and ad agencies after scrutinising their acting skills and creativity, as the most effective weapon of this 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was only artistry.
Funny fooling of Nazi soldiers
This wonderful team of artists designed inflatable tanks, which were mixed and behinded some real tanks, which made it seem like a large force. Further, these were deployed on other sites for poorly camouflaged areas so that enemy force would turn into another direction. Besides these tanks, the team also designed inflatable airplanes, and artillery, along with sound effects and other illusion-spinning tactics, which fully frightened German army that Allied forces were stronger and omnipresent. You can buy news article to get more information about the Ghost Army of America.
Salute to artists cum soldiers
However, this tactic was also very risky, as 23rd troop was often deployed near enemy lines. During the time of 1944 and Germany's surrender a year later, Ghost Army created over 20 deceptive operations in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany. They used particular Morse code patterns of specific Allied operators to befool German eavesdroppers about the position of US army, broadcast fake radio transmissions, and used huge portable speakers thundering through countryside up to 15 miles away to emit the sound of pre-recorded audio of military convoys. Moreover, soldiers also spun yarns for eavesdropping spies at local cafés. Thus, thousands of lives depended on the convincing performance of this ghost army, which at the end got success in overpowering the army of Hitler.
Exhibition of artistry
As per Karlin of Fast Company, the unit was filled with artists, who would often sketch and paint their surroundings, providing a fine-art chronicling of the mission during quiet moments. Some of that artwork would be exhibited till June 9 at Edward Hopper House Art Center in Nyack, New York. To catch glimpses of some arts of the Ghost Army, buy online images. In one of the paintings of Arthur Shilstone, two Frenchmen are portrayed observing four Ghosters lifting one of the inflatable tanks and exclaiming, "Americans are really very strong."
