my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. Any truth to this story? Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! --------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
When I googled, I found a whole website on the Decoy Paratrooper or "Paradummies". As strange as it sounds, apparently there was such a thing. Carol ----- Original Message ---- From: sue woelkers <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 10:11:15 AM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. Any truth to this story? Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! --------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx
The following excerpt was taken from info on dummy paratrooper hitory site found when subject was googled. The article is rather interesting on the history of using these dummies by the Germans, British, and Americans. BRITISH PARADUMMIES D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944: The British carried out the most famous of all paradummy missions during the early hours of D-Day June 5/6th, 1944. The paradummy operation was code-named "Titanic" and involved dropping hundreds of paradummies along the French coast to confuse and deceive the Germans as to where the actual Allied Airborne drops would occur. Six brave SAS men jumped along with the paradummies to make a lot of noise on the ground, play combat recordings, make small attacks on German troops (like couriers) and generally help make the landings appear real to the Germans. The SAS men were Lt. Fowles, TPR. Hurst, TPR. Merryweather, Lt. Poole, TPR. Dawson, and TPR. Saunders. Days after the operation only two of these six men had returned to friendly lines. The other five were likely killed or captured but it is possible some survived so this web site is still trying to research their exact fate. Titanic is surely one of the best kept secrets of WWII involving sheer bravery amongst Allied Special Operations soldiers, out there on their own behind enemy lines. The Titanic operation worked well and actually caused a good number of German troops to spread out away from the real landing areas, and also caused much confusion and doubt amongst German commanders who were then completely unsure if there was in fact an attack happening or not. Titanic is credited with surely reducing many Allied casualties as a result. ----- Original Message ---- From: sue woelkers <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 10:11:15 AM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. Any truth to this story? Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! --------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx
NO, pull up D-Day on google and let the child learn the real story - this sounds like a kids prank, teach him what D-Day was all about so he will know. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sue woelkers" <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:11 PM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 | my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. | | On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. | | Any truth to this story? | | Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! | | | --------------------------------- | Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. | | | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== | http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html | This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. | | ============================== | View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find | marriage announcements and more. Learn more: | http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx |
This is a true story. The dummies were dropped to confuse the Germans to where the real paras were being dropped. They were haring around all over the place all night. Aye Malcolm -----Original Message----- From: Delilah [mailto:diamond6468@mindspring.com] Sent: 20 June 2006 17:18 To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 NO, pull up D-Day on google and let the child learn the real story - this sounds like a kids prank, teach him what D-Day was all about so he will know. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sue woelkers" <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:11 PM Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 | my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. | | On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. | | Any truth to this story? | | Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! | | | --------------------------------- | Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. | | | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== | http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html | This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. | | ============================== | View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find | marriage announcements and more. Learn more: | http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx
They have one on display in Normandy which got stuck up a church steeple and the Germans shot at it ----- Original Message ----- From: "M.G.Fergusson" <fergussons@blueyonder.co.uk> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 7:33 PM Subject: RE: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 > This is a true story. The dummies were dropped to confuse the Germans to > where the real paras were being dropped. They were haring around all over > the place all night. > > Aye > Malcolm > > -----Original Message----- > From: Delilah [mailto:diamond6468@mindspring.com] > Sent: 20 June 2006 17:18 > To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 > > NO, pull up D-Day on google and let the child learn the real story - this > sounds like a kids prank, teach him what D-Day was all about so he will > know. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "sue woelkers" <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> > To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:11 PM > Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 > > > | my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a > friend. > | > | On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies > behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to > believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were > distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and > took > out the Germans. > | > | Any truth to this story? > | > | Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! > | > | > | --------------------------------- > | Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. > | > | > | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > | > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html > | This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, > subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. > Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what > country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give > dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For > example: > > 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > | > | ============================== > | View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > | marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > | http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > | > > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html > This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, > subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. > Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what > country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give > dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For > example: > 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > > > > > ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > We are an international list! Please, always tell the list what country > your ancestor is from. This helps all of us, especially you! If you give > dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For > example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > > ============================== > Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. > Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx >
Dear Sue With all respect, you have fallen into the trap of disbelieving something because - to you - it seems unlikely. A pity. Far from being "some kid's prank", the "paradummies" were used, most effectively in misleading the enemy. The dummies were about 2.5 feet tall and their 'chutes were proportionate, so that, outlined against a light sky or cloud, the seemed real. This type of ruse was not so very unusual. Many ingenious devices were used in WW2 with varying degrees of success. Regards One who was there. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Delilah" <diamond6468@mindspring.com> To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 7:18 PM Subject: Re: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 > NO, pull up D-Day on google and let the child learn the real story - this > sounds like a kids prank, teach him what D-Day was all about so he will > know. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "sue woelkers" <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> > To: <WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:11 PM > Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 > > > | my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a > friend. > | > | On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies > behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to > believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were > distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and > took > out the Germans. > | > | Any truth to this story? > | > | Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! > | > | > | --------------------------------- > | Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. > | > | > | ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== > | > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html > | This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, > subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. > Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what > country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give > dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For > example: > 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > | > | ============================== > | View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > | marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > | http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > | > > ______________________________
Does anyone remember the scene in the 60s movie "The Longest Day" when the Germans presented a captured dummy to their officer? Was this an accurate portray of what the dummies looked like? Leonard H. Cizewski Son of the late PFC Felix A. Cizewski, Signal Corps, Europe, WW2 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Sue: In the movie the longest day there is a scene where a German General is shown a small dummy paratrooper. Paul Hinkle WW2 US vet sue woelkers <sheltzz3@yahoo.com> wrote: my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. Any truth to this story? Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! --------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx Yahoo is my non-personal mail. For personal mail only use <pdhinkle@radiotower.net> --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.
This was true. Somewhere, I have a photo in a book of one of the actual dummies.But here is a quote from the book by Cornelius Ryan "The Longest Day"copyright 1959 Library of Congress catalogue number 59-9499. On page 147 " As more reports came in of airborne troops, some said they were only dolls disguised as paratroopers. Whoever made that observation was partly right. To add to the German confusion, the allies had dropped hundreds of life like dummies, dressed as paratroopers, south of the Normandy invasion area. Attached to each were strings of firecrackers which exploded on landing giving the impression of a small arms fight. For more than 3 hours a few of these dummies were to deceive General Marcks into believing that paratropers had landed at Lessay some 25 miles southwest of his headquarters." Hope this helps answer your nephew's question. Cris Van Hal (Ontario, Canada) -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.1/369 - Release Date: 19/06/2006
A smaller, but effective deception, Operation Titanic, was carried out by 6 SAS commandos. They were dropped with some 200 dummy paratroopers and sound effects equipment designed to confuse the enemy and take reinforcements away from the landings. http://home.att.net/~1.elliott/paratrooperdummyhistorysite.html Aye Malcolm -----Original Message----- From: sue woelkers [mailto:sheltzz3@yahoo.com] Sent: 20 June 2006 17:11 To: WORLDWAR2-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [WORLD WAR II] Kid's Question About WW2 my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. Any truth to this story? Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! --------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. ==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx
It was the night of the Real landing and was designed to draw the German Tropps away from the actual invasion area WWII Veteran At 10:11 20/06/2006 -0700, you wrote: > >my 11 year old nephew called and he had been told the following by a friend. > > On D-Day, so the story goes, the Allies (Americans?) dropped dummies behind the German positions, firecrackers attached. The Germans were to believe that the dummies were real, and shooting at them. While they were distracted, meanwhile, real troops were approaching from the rear, and took out the Germans. > > Any truth to this story? > > Thanks for the help you all are so wonderful at providing! > > >--------------------------------- >Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. > > >==== WORLDWAR2 Mailing List ==== >http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Military:_20th_Century/WORLDWAR2.html >This is the link to our archives. You may search or browse. Also, subscribe or unsubscribe and contact admin. We are an international list. Please remember to tell us what country your ancestor was from and what country you are in now if different. This helps us help you. If you give dates please help us understand the date you are referring to. For example: 4 Nov 1944 or Nov 4, 1944. > >============================== >View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release Date: 16/06/2006 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release Date: 16/06/2006