6 Shocking War Tactics That Actually Worked
Strategy is everything in war. Well-executed plans can be the difference between winning or losing the war, but these war tactics can often seem less fact than fiction. From creating fake towns to convincing the enemy to fake being sick, these six shocking war tactics are sure to make you think twice about war strategy.
6. Fake Town 1812
Starting our list of war tactics is a fake town. During the War of 1812, one town on Maryland’s coast fooled the British during a nighttime siege. The townspeople knew an attack was imminent and took action. They placed lanterns in the treetops around the town, making the town appear higher in elevation, so when the British came they completely missed the town and were vulnerable to cannon fire by the Americans.
5. Opium-laced Cigarettes
Fifth on our list of war tactics is a cleverly placed pack of cigarettes. During World War I, the British and the Ottomans were locked in a drawn-out battle in the trenches. When the British learned the Ottomans ran out of cigarettes, they sent packs to the enemy filled with propaganda. While nothing happened, the second shipment contained opium-laced cigarettes, so by the time the British attacked, the soldiers were too strung out to put up a fight.
4. Bikes as Wartime Conveyances
Next up for shocking war tactics is a unique form of transportation. During World War II, British soldiers were stationed in Singapore to repel any forces, believing that Japanese ground troops wouldn’t be able to navigate the rough terrain. They were very wrong. The Japanese used bicycles as their mode of transport, invading by way of Malaysia and ending with 60,000 British troops surrendering. The bicycles allowed troops to move faster and bring more supplies, ultimately giving them the advantage.
3. Convincing Enemies to Fake Illnesses
Rounding out our top three war tactics is the power of calling in sick. Denis Sefton Delmer was a journalist during WWII who had a penchant for pissing off the Germans. One of his greatest ploys was creating several books and pamphlets that gave detailed instructions on how to get out of war duty by faking an illness. The books were left lying around throughout Germany and proved successful as the roll-call of absentees rose higher with every day that passed.
2. Operation Mincemeat
Second on our list of shocking war tactics is Operation Mincemeat. During WWII, British intelligence came up with a wild way to deceive the Nazis. Their plan? Planting fake documents on the body of a dead man and releasing them off the coast of Spain. The goal was to have the Germans believe the phony plans, and it did, allowing for a successful Allied invasion of Sicily. It has become one of the most prominent deceptions ever in war history.
1. Ghost Army
Last but not least on our list of war tactics is the ghost army. The U.S. Army went to new heights for deception in World War II, hiring a team of artists and audio experts to create a phantom military unit. Known as the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops (or “Ghost Army”), the 1,100 soldiers set up lifelike tanks, trucks, and artillery to create the illusion of a larger group. The deception tied up enemy resources and allowed the real troops to move elsewhere.
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