The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Thaddeus Holt |
| Products | Historical non-fiction book |
The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War, authored by Thaddeus Holt and published in 2004, provides a detailed historical examination of Allied military deception strategies executed during the Second World War. The narrative highlights the contributions of prominent individuals such as Dudley Clarke in the Middle East, John Bevan operating out of London, William H. Baumer and Newman Smith based in Washington, as well as Peter Fleming in the Far East. It thoroughly explores their roles in planning and implementing deception tactics that aided Allied military efforts.
The book was met with favorable critical response; historian Max Hastings described it as a "worthy celebration" of British wartime deception. Nonetheless, certain reviewers remarked on the book’s considerable length and the abundance of detail as potential obstacles for some readers.
Synopsis
Thaddeus Holt, a lawyer who formerly served as deputy under-secretary of the US Army, embarked on researching The Deceivers during the early 1990s, initially driven by an interest in the strategic deceptions surrounding Operation Overlord. His investigation eventually broadened to encompass Allied deception activities from 1940 until the conclusion of the war. Notably, Holt was the first civilian historian granted access to declassified United States military records concerning wartime deception.
The account begins by focusing on Dudley Clarke, lauded as "the master of the game," starting with his partnership with Archibald Wavell in North Africa and his establishment of the deception unit known as 'A' Force. The narrative then traces Clarke’s impact on Allied leadership in London, including the formation of the London Controlling Section, alongside developments in Washington such as the creation of Joint Security Control. Holt follows key figures like Bevan and David Strangeways through their orchestration of Operation Bodyguard, recognized as the largest strategic deception campaign during the war. The text concludes by detailing Fleming’s collaboration with Wavell and 'D Division' in the Far East theatre. Approximately one-fifth of the book consists of four appendices that catalogue Allied deception operations, double agents, fictitious military formations, and include regional maps.
Critical reception
Overall, Holt’s publication was well received, though some critics pointed to its extensive length and highly detailed nature. John Latimer writing for The Guardian characterized The Deceivers as "a monumental work and clearly a labour of love," commending its rich biographical insights especially concerning Dudley Clarke, but cautioned that its depth might prove overwhelming for readers less familiar with the subject matter.
In The Spectator, Noble Frankland described the topic as "gripping" yet criticized the book’s structure for presenting a "bewildering series of disjointed chronological, geographical and systematical sequences." He praised Holt’s meticulous sourcing and balanced conclusions, noting that Holt acknowledged Axis responses aligned with Allied deception aims without crediting these efforts exclusively for outcomes. Frankland also remarked on a notable omission regarding air deception despite the book’s extensive coverage.
Historian Max Hastings praised it as a "worthy celebration" of British deception operations, highlighting Holt’s restraint from sensationalism. Meanwhile, M. R. D. Foot summarized the work succinctly: "as good as it is long."
External links
- C-SPAN: Holt presenting the book at the Military Affairs Symposium, City University of New York, 2004 (87 minutes).