Operation Barclay

Operation Barclay was during World War II as an Allied deception in support of the invasion of Sicily in 1943.

By this operation, the military leadership deceived the Axis powers on the actual distribution of allied forces in the Mediterranean and the attention from the real target of Sicily of the Balkans was directed.

For this purpose, a mock army (the “Twelfth Army” with 12 divisions) created that would mimic with the apparent movement of troops and heavy radio traffic a troop concentration in the easternMediterranean.

The run was the successful completion of Operation Mincemeat, when the Germans deliberately false plans in the hands were played, a two-part plan of operations suggested by Allied invasion of southernFranceandSardiniaand the Balkans. Now the idea of ​​a planned invasion of the Balkans through the Greek translator recruitment and procurement of appropriate cards as part of Operation Barclay was further strengthened.

The Allied invasion of measures to conceal their plans were an overall success, the High Command of the Armed Forces took a far greater number of allied troops in the eastern Mediterranean, as was indeed the case. Although Mussolini preceded further invasion of Sicily as the goal, Hitler was convinced that the landings take place in Sardinia, Corsica andGreecewould. As a result, reinforcements were ordered there, and the Italian fleet focused on the Adriatic Sea, off Sicily. This ensured the subsequent invasion of Sicily in Operation Husky the desired effect of surprise. At the time of the invasion of Sicily only two German and four Italian divisions to the defense ready.