Ardennes Counteroffensive: Initial stages and planning

The Ardennes counteroffensive, or "Wacht am Rhine", as the Germans called it, was the biggest German surprise attack launched by the weakened German Wehrmacht. It was a fast and furious offensive which could buy some time for the Germans. German scientists had been working in full swing and had succeeded in creating a number of breakthroughs on flight tech, armor, missiles, etc. The only problem was that they weren't yet ready to mass-produce the technology. Hence, the German Wehrmacht launched this offensive. It was also one of the largest Tank battles ever fought.
The strategic objective of the forces was the port town of Antwerp. Taking Antwerp would split the enemy forces into two. It would take the Allies around eighteen months to recover, buying enough time for the Germans. It was named the "Battle of the Bulge" because the Ardennes region pushed into German territory in the shape of a bulge. 
After the breakout from Normandy, Allied troops marched onto Germany quicker than expected. Their supply lines were stretched extremely thin, as there was a lack of Deep-Water ports to land supplies. The Cherbourg port had indeed been captured, but it had been thoroughly destroyed by the Germans. The Allied forces captured Antwerp in early days of September, fully intact, but it wasn't operational until Late November, when it's estuary was cleared of German soldiers and Mines. And then there was Opn. Market Garden, brainchild of the so-called ""Sir"" Bernard Montgomery, which again screwed the Allies as it was a HUGE failure.
The Ardennes forest was chosen on Hitler's insistence, even though many Generals objected to this, for reasons unknown. Four Armies were selected for the operation. The Sixth Panzer Army under Josef Deitrich, was to attack the North from the German town of Monschau, ad was tasked with the primary objective-Antwerp

Josef Deitrich

The Fifth Panzer Army under Hasso von Manteuffel, was tasked the middle route, with the objective of capturing Brussels

Hasso Von Manteuffel

The Seventh Army under Gen. Erich Brandenberger, was tasked to the south, from the town of Echternach, with the task of protecting the flanks.

Erich Branderberger

Also, there was the Fifteenth army in a secondary role, under the command of Adolf von Zangen. They were tasked to hold the U.S. forces in place and to launch their own attack at will.

Adolf von Zangen

Before the attack, Allies were blind to German troop movements. Through France, the Resistance provided them with the necessary information. But as they reached the German border, the source dried up. There was a major crackdown in the Wehrmacht  after the 20 July plot to assassinate Hitler. Hence, security was tighter than ever. German soldiers building up in the woods were issued charcoal instead of wood to light fires. This helped to cut down on the smoke, and was less chance of the Allies detecting the build-up. The foggy weather also prevented the Allied Recon aircraft to survey the areas.For these reasons Allied High Command considered the Ardennes a quiet sector, relying on assessments from their intelligence services that the Germans were unable to launch any major offensive operations this late in the war. What little intelligence they had led the Allies to believe precisely what the Germans wanted them to believe-–that preparations were being carried out only for defensive, not offensive, operations. In fact, because of the Germans' efforts, the Allies were led to believe that a new defensive army was being formed around  the northern Rhine, possibly to defend against British attack.

 Josef Deitrich's 6th Panzer Army

Ardennes Counteroffensive (Central front)

The attack on the Schnee Eiffel sector, under Hasso von Manteuffel, fared certainly better than the North, over the thinly spread 28th and 106th Infantry. Meanwhile, a junction n the center of the town of St. Vith was the main challenge for Manteuffel and Deitrich. 7th Armored and 106th Infantry division, and they success fully slowed the German advance through their counterattack. At Montgomery's orders, St. Vith was evacuated on 21 December; U.S. troops fell back to entrenched positions in the area, presenting an imposing obstacle to a successful German advance. By 23 December, as the Germans shattered their flanks, the defenders' position became untenable and U.S. troops were ordered to retreat west of the Salm River.Since the German plan called for the capture of St. Vith by 18:00 on 17 December, the prolonged action in and around it dealt a major setback.To protect the river crossings on the Meuse at Givet, Dinant and Namur, Montgomery ordered those few units available to hold the bridges on 19 December. This led to a hastily assembled force including rear-echelon troops, military police and Army Air Force personnel. British 29th Armored and the XXX corps began moving in on the Meuse.

The 16th Panzerlehr came up from the south as reinforcement for the 2nd Panzer division. The Ourthe river was taken on 21st December around midday. After a one-day delay due to lack of fuel, the Fifth Panzer Army moved on to the town of Marschell and Hargimont. Hagimont was taken hours later, but Marschell was held strongly by the US 84th Division. Leaving a small force at Marsche, the 47th Panzer Corps turned west toward the Meuse as ordered by their commander Heinrich Luttwitz.

Heinrich Luttwitz,

On 22/23 December, The wood near For-NotreDame were taken, few kilometres short of the town of Dinant. However, the narrow route exposed them to considerable danger from allied flanking attacks. On the 24th noon, the Panzerlehr took positions in the village of Celles, whie further west, units of the 2nd Panzer div. were in sight of the Meuse near Dinant.
An Allied blockade was hastily assembled, consisting units from the British 29th armoured, US 101 Airborne, and others. This force prevented the Panzer units from moving forward.
Allied flanks had now also begun posing a threat to the narrow corridor held by the 2nd Panzer Div. (Main) and hence, the attack in this sector also came to an end.

Operation Copperhead

Operation Copperhead was a small British Military deceptive operation before the Normandy Landings and was intended to mislead German intelligence as to the location of General Bernard Law Montgomery. It was well known that Monty was an important figure in the war, he would be part of any major offensive the Allies launched. Hence, Intel figured that if he were to be spotted outside of London, the Germans could be deceived that the Landings were to come at the south of France. Brig. Dudley Clarke was assigned to the operation, and soon he found a lookalike stage actor, Meyrick Clifton James in London. James was assigned to Monty's office, and had a few meetings with him, so as to familiarise himself with the general's mannerisms.

The Allies made use of their double-agent network to feed the idea that Monty would lead ground operations during the Invasion. On may 26 1944, James was flown overnight to Algiers, publicly parading through the airport and met Gen. Maitland Wilson, possibly to plan thye things ahead. He'd been seen in Algiers, smoking, drinking and staggering, hence he was flown the next day to Cairo. He was to remain hidden there until the public disclosure of Montgomery's presence in France. Meanwhile, double agents in North Africa were used to extend the masquerade for a few more days, by hinting Montgomery was still in the region.

The impact was very little, as the information of Monty being in Africa was not passed onto the German command in France. Bodyguard had done enough to convince the Germans, and Monty's drama added little to the picture

Ardennes Counteroffensive (Northern Front)

"Nuts!"

On 16 December 1944, at 0530 hrs, the German Army launched the offensive post a 90-minute artillery barrage along an 80-mile front, using 1600 pieces of artillery. In the North, Detrich's 6th Panzer Army hit the Loshiem gap in an effort to take Leige, Belgium. But these met unusually heavy resistance by the U.S. 2nd and 99th Infantry divisions. On the first day itself, an 18-man patrolling unit held up 500 German Fallschirmagers at Lanzerath village, which was a key route to the Loshiem Gap. Thius created a bottleneck in the German advance. A division of the 6th Panzer, led by Col. Joachim Peiper was tasked to take the Loshiem-Loshiemergraben Road, but they were held up due to heavy snowfall-blocked passes. This put him around 16 hours behind schedule.

Oberstgruppenfuerher Joachim Peiper

Peiper reached Bucholz town early on the 17th. He captured a fuel depot at Bullingen, and some units of the 3rd Battalion, 394th Inf. Reg.

Their intention was to control the twin villages of Rocherath-Krinkelt which would clear a path to the high ground of Elsensborn Ridge. Occupation of this dominating terrain would allow control of the roads to the south and west and ensure supply to Kampfgruppe Peiper's armored task force. The stiff American defense prevented the Germans from reaching the vast array of supplies near the Belgian cities of Spa` and Leige, and the road network leading to the Meuse river.

The previously mentioned 99th Inf. Div. suffered casualties, losing 20% of it's strength, 250+ killed, and approx. 2500 wounded. The casualties they inflicted on the Germans were 4000 dead, 60 tanks and cannons destroyed.

Driving to the south-east of Elsenborn, Kampfgruppe Peiper entered Honsfield, where they encountered one of the 99th Division's rest centers, clogged with confused American troops. They killed many, destroyed a number of American armored units and vehicles, and took several dozen prisoners who were murdered by elements of his force. Peiper easily captured the town and 50,000 US gallons (190,000 l; 42,000 imp gal) of fuel for his vehicles. Peiper then advanced north-west towards Büllingen, keeping to the plan to move west, apparently unaware he had nearly taken the town and unknowingly bypassed an opportunity to flank and trap the entire 2nd and 99th Divisions. Peiper turned south to detour around Hünningen, choosing a route designated Rollbahn D, as he had been given latitude to choose the best route west.

At 12:30 on 17 December, Kampfgruppe Peiper was near the hamlet of Baugnez, on the height halfway between the town of Malmedy and Ligneuville, when they encountered elements of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, U.S. 7th Armored Division. After a brief battle the lightly armed Americans surrendered. They were disarmed and, with some other Americans captured earlier (approximately 150 men), sent to stand in a field near the crossroads under light guard. About fifteen minutes after Peiper's advance guard passed through, the main body under the command of SS Sturmbannführer Werner Pötschke arrived. For reasons unknown to this day, the SS troopers suddenly opened fire on the prisoners. As soon as the firing began, the prisoners panicked. Most were shot where they stood, though some managed to flee. Accounts of the killing vary, but 84 of the POWs were murdered. A few survived, and news of the killings of prisoners of war raced through Allied lines. This incident became famous as the Malmedy Massacre

By now, Peiper was heavily behind schedule, as the retreating Americans had blown up bridges, and emptied fuel dumps. His vehicles were critically needy of fuel. It took him 36 hours from Eifel to Stavelot town, a move which had taken only 9 hours in 1940. They attacked Stavelot on 18th Dec. but were unable to take the town before the Americans evacuated a large fuel depot. Three tanks tried to take the bridge, but the lead vehicle was damaged by a mine. Following this, 60 grenadiers advanced forward but were stopped by concentrated American defensive fire. After a fierce tank battle the next day, the Germans finally entered the village when U.S. engineers failed to blow the bridge.

Not wanting to Waste more time, Peiper pushed an advance party to the bridge at Troise-Pontes`  leaving the bulk of his strength in Stavelot. When they reached it at 1130 on 18 December, retreating U.S. engineers blew it up in their faces. Peiper detoured north towards the villages of La Gleize and Cheneux. At Cheneux, the advance guard was attacked by American fighter-bombers, destroying two tanks and five halftracks, blocking the narrow road. The group got moving again at dusk at 1600 and was able to return to its original route at around 1800. Of the two bridges now remaining between Kampfgruppe Peiper and the Meuse, the bridge over the Lienne was blown by the Americans as the Germans approached. Peiper turned north and halted his forces in the woods between La Gleize and Stoumont. He learned that Stoumont was strongly held and that the Americans were bringing up strong reinforcements from Spa.

To Peiper's south, the advance of Kampfgruppe Hansen had stalled. SS Oberführer Mohnke ordered Schnellgruppe Knittel, which had been designated to follow Hansen, to instead move forward to support Peiper. SS Sturmbannführer Knittel crossed the bridge at Stavelot around 1900 against American forces trying to retake the town. Knittel pressed forward towards La Gleize, and shortly afterward the Americans recaptured Stavelot. Peiper and Knittel both faced the prospect of being cut off from their own lines.

On the dawn of 19 Dec., Peiper's Infantry from the 19th Panzergrenadiers surprised the American units defending the village of Stoumont. A Panzer attack followed the Infantry offensive, and the eastern edge of the village was taken. Help in the form of American Sherman units arrived, but by 1030 hrs, Peiper group succeeded in taking Stoumont. Knittel Group reported to Peiper saying that Eastern Stoumont was with the Americans yet again. Joachim Peiper made an assessment, and concluded that he didn't have enough fuel to cross the bridge and continue his advance tot take eastern Stoumont. He maintained control of the western sector for a while, but soon withdrew his lines back to the edge. The same evening, the 82nd Airborne under Maj. Gen. James M Gavin deployed by the La Gleize and held up Peiper's intended supply route.
Hansen group was struggling with terrain and stiff American  Schnellgruppe Knittel was forced to disengage from the heights around Stavelot. Kampfgruppe Sandig, which had been ordered to take Stavelot, launched another attack without success. Josef Deitrich ordered Hermann Preis to try backing up Peiper Group, but failed.
On the morning of 21st Dec. small units of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 119th Regiment, attacked the dispersed Peiper Group. Peiper learnt that they were to reinforce at La Glaziele and ordered an immediate retreat.Attempting to withdraw from Cheneux, American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division engaged the Germans in fierce house-to-house fighting. The Americans shelled Kampfgruppe Peiper on 22 December, and although the Germans had run out of food and had virtually no fuel, they continued to fight. A resupply mission by the Luftwaffe  went wrong when a Brigadier insisted that the co-ordinates supplied by Peiper were invalid. The supplies, instead, fell into American hands at Stoumont.
Meanwhile in Glaziele, Peiper group and co. set up defenses, waiting for the German resupply. But as they were unable to penetrate, He moved back to Germany on the 23rd morning. They were forced to abandon vehicles and other heavy equipment, taking only their guns and ammunition, as they'd exhausted every last drop of fuel while coming upto La Glaziele. The soldiers were able to escape.

Operation Colossus

Operation Colossus was a British Commando raid to destroy an important aqueduct in Southern Italy. It was expected to hamper the Axis efforts in North Africa as well as Albania. It was also the first operation of the renown British Commandos. For this operation, the RAF supplied the Commandos with AW-38 bombers to be modified into transport aircraft. Britain was lacking in the required expertise and equipment to create parachute divisions, but Churchill concluded that an airborne raid was must. It would show the world that Britain was capable of fighting back. The aqueduct was the main water-supply for a large Italian town that housed the port of Taranto. It would help demoralize them to some extent.
A small force of 38 men, comprising 7 officers and 31 other ranks, was selected from the military and put under the command of Major T.A.G. Pritchard. The plan was to transport the unit to the target on 10 February 1941, after completing operations, they were to withdraw 50 miles to the coast at the mouth of the Sele river where HMS Triumph would pick them up. Training for the operation began by January '41
On Feb. 7th, the unit boarded the A-38's issued to them, and traveled 1600 kms to Malta Is. where they were briefed about their target and the escape plans. At 1830 hrs. on 10th Feb. the unit took off from Malta. The flight to the ducts was uneventful. Five out of Six planes managed to drop the troops at the selected drop zone 500 m. from the target. The sixth failed to locate the drop zone and the troops landed in a valley 2 Km. southwest of the target. These men were of the Royal Engineer regiment, ans were responsible for the rigging of the duct with with explosives. Analyzing the situation, Pritchard concluded that the remaining explosives were enough to cause slight but significant damage to the duct.
The troops re-organized and moved on to the duct. On inspecting the duct, it was found that the piers supporting it were made of reinforced concrete, not bricks as it was expected earlier. Pritchard decided to place a majority of the explosives on the western pier, and the rest against it's abutments.
At 0030 hrs on 11 Feb. the explosives went off. The aqueduct was successfully destroyed. around 0100 hrs, the unit split into three groups and fled to the rendezvous point.

Unfortunately, all three were captured. The first group was spotted by a farmer who raised an alarm. This caused the local Military Police unit to go on alert. After a brief firefight, owing to shortage of ammunition, the group surrendered. The second group was ambushed by Italian soldiers. The third group was discovered by civilians. They claimed to be Germans on a special field exercise, but were caught when the Mayor demanded their Identity papers.
The aircraft conducting diversionary bombing raids was shot and radioed to the RAF that it was damaged, and ditching at the Rendezvous point. British officers feared that this message may have been monitored by the Italians, and hence didn't send the Triumph to the location.

The operation, though successful in t's objective, caused negligible damage. The water supplies in local reservoirs lasted enough until the canal was repaired. Lessons taken from the raid helped the Commandos on future operations. It also provided a morale boost to the Brit military as it was realized that the Commandos were a threat to the Axis powers.

Operation Chastise

"Nigger! They've breached the Moehne!"

Operation Chastise was the official name of the well-known Dambuster Raid. It's story goes back to pre-war times. The British Air ministry had identified the Ruhr river valley, especially it's dams, as important strategic targets. In addition to provide Hydro-electricity, they also supplied drinking water to more than half of Germany. It was then impossible to breach them due to the calculated amount of bombs required, and the defences on the dams.

As war broke out, the Bomber Command began debating on a method to destroy the dams. Barnes Wallis, Scientist and chief designer at Vickers company, who had once worked on two of it's bombers, came up with an Idea of dropping a 10 ton bomb from a height of 40,000 ft.

 Dr Barnes Wallis

 But there wasn't an aircraft which could carry that heavy a payload at such a height. Wallace later designed a drum-like bomb which would spin at a speed of around 500 rpm, dropped at the correct speed and height, would skip across the surface of the water, hit the dam, sink to the bottom, and then would be detonated by a hydrostatic fuse. Testing proved that a slightly modified Avro Lancaster would be suitable enough to carry the bombs. The tests took place at a beach in North Britain. The bomb exploded on contact the first two times. A month later, Wallace calculated the speed of 232 miles an hour, with an altitude of 40-60 feet. 

Sir Arthur Harris of bomber command, known popularly as "Bomber Harris" for his temper, reviewed Wallis's reports. Convinced, he allocated 30 Lancaster aircraft for the mission.

He also set the date around the month of May, when the water level would be highest.

A new squadron, ''Squadron X" was formed out of the RAF Group 5, and training began in earnest. Wing Cmdr.  Guy Gibson, a veteran of over 200 missions, was handed command of the squadron. He selected 21 bomber crews from existing 5th Group crews. 

Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson, 

                                                                         DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar

The next problem was the altitude. Gibson was experienced at low-flying, but it was not possible to determine altitude due to a certain inaccuracy of the Altimeters used during that period. As he was watching a play, Gibson noticed two spotlights, placed at two ends of the stage, combine to from one single spot. The idea struck him, and he got someone to geometrically calculate the angles and fitted  Aldis Lamps on each bomber, one below the nose, and one below the tail. When the beams merged, it would mean that the aircraft was at 60 feet. Also, the bombers needed precision to drop the bomb. A colleague fashioned a prototype bomb-sight out of plywood, and it was accepted after a few tests.

Summer marched in, and the month of May was soon upon them. It was now time to send out recon aircraft to fly "accidentally" over the dams. By 16 of may, the water had risen just short of four to five feet from the top, which was just right for the attack.

Until then, Gibson was the only one aware of the real target. The rest of the squadron was in the dark. One day, Gibson had them assembled for briefing. They were then informed that the real targets were the Dams of the Ruhr valley. The main targets were the Moehne, Sorpae and the Edersee dam, as well as a number of secondary dams.

The squadron was organised into three formations. Formation One, numbering 9 aircraft consisted of Gibson, Flight Lt. Hopgood, Flight Lt. Martin, Flight Lt. David Maltby, Flight Lt. Dave Shannon, Flight Lt. Bill Astell. Their mission was to attack the Moehne. Any aircraft with bombs left would proceed tho the Eder dam.

Formation Two, numbering 5 aircraft, consisted of Flight Lt. Joe McCarthy, Pilot Officer Vernon Byers, Flight Lt. Bob Barlow, Flight Lt. Les Munro and P/O Geoff Rice Their mission was to attack the Sorpe dam.
Formation Three was a mobile reserve consisting of aircraft piloted by Flight Sgt. Cyril Anderson, Flt Sgt Bill Townsend, Flt Sgt Ken Brown, P/O Warner Ottley and P/O Lewis Burpee, taking off two hours later on 17 May, either to bomb the main dams or to attack three smaller secondary target dams: the Lister, the Ennepe and the Diemel.
At exactly 2128 hrs on May 16th, the nineteen Lancasters of Squadron X, now officially Squadron 617, took off for the raid. As they reached the western border of Germany, a few guns opened up, and a Lanc from Formation Two was hit. They replied with Machine-Gun bursts.
Suddenly, they were flying over an airfield. Searchlights opened up,  but managing to fly low over the trees, the Lancs dodged them. Another aircraft hit a tree and crashed into a feild, subsequently catching fire. Five seconds later, it's bomb exploded. Formation Two had lost four planes, leaving McCarthy to attack and return alone. The reserve force had faced heavy attacks, leaving only two aircraft.
As they neared the dam, It was lit up by concentrated flak. Gibson decided to go for it first, with Shannon coming in as decoy. Gibson's Crew was on alert. Gibson was looking through the bombsight, Spafford controlled the bomb, and Tery was navigating. The plane held course at Sixty feet, and suddenly Spafford yelled, "BOMB GONE" and Gibson eased the stick and flew over the dam. The mine hit the wall, sank, and threw up a huge fountain of water. But the dam held ground. Next came Hopgood, with Gibson as a decoy. But German gunners had Hopgood in their sights, an he was hit. Hopgood's mine fell into the power house and exploded. Micky Martin's turn. Another perfect drop, and the same incident repeated. But again the dam held. Next came Sqn. Leader Young. He cleared the dam, and a colossal wall of water swept right over it. Gibson could have sworn that the dam moved, but it still held.
Gibson called in Maltby. Maltby was hit on one wing, but at the very edge. He came in, dropped his mine, and got out of there. Again water swept over the dam, but now the whole valley was filled with smoke. As Gibson came around, he was about to call in Shannon, but he saw that the dam just wasn't there anymore. A hundred-yard breach in the wall! He told Huthcinson, his Radio operator to report to base

Back at the Operations Room in bomber command, Wallis and Harris were sitting on their fifth cup of coffee. The only news so far was of disaster. Hutch's slow morse began coming through...
"Dash-dot-dot....Dash-dot...Dash-Dash-Dot...."
""NIGGER"" the reciever yelled. "They've breached the Moehne!''
The news was too much for Wallis to bear. He threw his cup of coffee and he danced around like a wild African tribal. It was too much for him.
Gibson ordered Maltby and Micky to go home. He mustered the remaining five and headed for the Eder. They found the dam in a deep valley with high, forest-covered hills around it. The run was hazardous. The aircraft had to go over a gothic castle, drop quickly from 1000 to 60 feet, drop the mine, and then climb steeply to avoid a hill beyond the dam.
Shannon came in first, but was unsuccessful in dropping the mine. It repeated three times, and Gibson called in Maudsley to relieve him. In his third run, he dropped his mine, but not accurately. The mine hit the wall and exploded on impact, taking with it Maudsley and his Lanc
Shannon came in again. In his second run, he managed to get into the perfect position. His mine hit the dam accurately. Next came in Knight. Two abortive runs. Gibson sighed as he looked at his watch. it was 0140 already, and the eastern sky had hints of lightning. Knight's third run hit the dam and finally the Eder crumbled.

The survivors set course for home.
Brown, of the reserves was sent to the Sorpe. He dropped his mine, and witnessed the wall come down. He set course to return. It is unknown as to what happened to the aircraft sent to the Lister and Ennepe dams.
Ten of the nineteen Lancaster aircraft of Squadron 617 were coming home. The eastern sky was lightening every minute, increasing risk from German fighters. Young was shot over the Dutch coast, as he was returning.
Wing Cmdr. Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross. 32 other aircrew were also decorated. The total cost of this mission was Nine Lancasters lost, 54 dead.

Reconnaissance over the next two days showed empty reservoirs and flooding. An entire airfield  was underwater, and the town of Kassel was strangled.

   Operation Mincemeat

"Last night, I dreamed a deadly dream. Beyond the isle of Skye, I saw a dead man win a fight. And I believe, that man was I"

Operation Mincemeat was one of the most well-planned and effective deception operations ever carried out. The idea came out in early 1943, as the Allied armies, after liberating North Africa, were gearing up to invade Sicily. Churchill had commented after North Africa, "You've gotta be a bloody fool to not know it was going to be  Sicily [next]." But what if Jerry was made to believe, or even doubt, that the invasion would come somewhere else, say, Greece? There was already a fake "Twelfth Army" In existence through Operation Barclay (Which Mincemeat was a part of). Hitler always suspected that the invasion would come through the Balkans, and Barclay had reinforced his belief.

Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu took this task upon himself to create a successful deception operation, and in a few days, the idea of Mincemeat was born. It was decided that a dead body was to be found washed ashore, containing secret documents and letters, on the Spanish coast. Spain, though neutral in the War, was very much pro-Nazi.  Montagu put the plan forward to Vice Admiral Archibald Nye, who forwarded it to Churchill. Churchill swiftly gave the go-ahead. Montagu, and another officer, Charles Cholmondeley, set to work, looking for a body. After quite a lot of work, they found a body which had no claimants, but the problem was that the person, Glyndwyr Michael, had died of ingesting rat-poison. The Mincemeat team made discreet inquiries of an eminent pathologist, and discovered that if the body was pulled from the sea, a workaday pathologist wouldn't suspect that it had died of a cause other than drowning. This was another reason for the selection of the Spanish coast, because if the body was found at a place directly under Nazi occupation, the body would be assumed a fake, looking at the documents it carried, examined too closely unless the authenticity was determined. This would reveal the cause of death has poison, and not drowning.
After procuring the body, Cholmondeley arranged for a dry-ice canister to store the body.

Then began the job of turning the dead body into a military officer. It was decided to have him in the navy, because if word of a dead air-crewman o army officer spread, several of the High-Command (Who were not in on the plan) would be asking tough questions. They decided to make him a Royal Marine, who didn't need a tailored uniform but could wear an off-the-hook battledress like a soldier. They decided to procure for him an Identity card. This was where another obstacle popped up. Every ID Card needs a photograph, and it was impossible to photograph the dead body. They scoured the streets of London, hoping to meet a man with the same facial features. They bumped into one, and soon, Major Martin's ID Card was on the way.

Engrossed in this work, Montagu realized that every one has a private life. He thought that there must be some items on him that will portray his personal life. For this purpose, they obtained a photograph of Montagu's secretary. An older woman working at M.I.-5 wrote down a love-letter, purporting to be from Martin's girlfriend Pam.

Now that the soldier was ready, it was time to create the fake documents. Montagu got a letter written personally by Vice Admiral Nye, to general Harold Alexander, regarding the decision of war in the western Mediterranean. Montagu made it a point for the letter to be a bit rude about someone, as the first question would be as why wasn't the letter sent through the normal channels. It spoke at length about possible landings at Greece, and about ignoring Sicily as it was thought to be the most obvious landing point. Montagu also procured a few more letters from other officers.

 Preparations were through ant thorough. Finally, it was time for execution of the operation. The body was put into another canister marked "Top Secret Meteorological Device. Handle with care"
It filled with Dry Ice and loaded into a van. Cholmondeley

Lt. Cmdr. Ewen Montagu

and Montagu drove this van overnight to Loch Holy, Scotland, where it was loaded onto the HMS Seraph submarine, which set sail on 19th April.
Montagu was aware that there was a German Intel agent in the part of Spain where the body would be found. Hence the British Consul there was also in on the plan.

The body was found on 31st April by a local fisherman, and taken to the government hospital. As the Spanish were against postmortems due to Catholicism, the German agent, who was friendly with the authorities convinced them to do one. All this while, the British consul made a big show of demanding that the documents be handed back to him unopened.
When the body and the belongings were returned, the high command was convinced that it hadn't been opened. Montagu sought out forensic reports which assured him that the letters had been viewed and probably photographed as well.

Meanwhile, in the German high-command, Hitler was convinced that the documents were original, and began to pore over his maps, drawing out forces from Sicily, and re-assigning them to Sardinia, Greece and other nearby regions.
At the time of the Invasion, the Allies did suffer significant casualties, because the troops withdrawn from Africa hadn't been re-assigned yet. But it was barely a half of what they would have suffered, if Mincemeat was a failure. The unsung and unknown Glyndwyr Michael, had done his duty to his motherland even after death.