Reason Read: ROOT, Alpha J, TIOLI #12
This was a free download from AudioFile Sync Summer program and therefore its target audience is young people. A WWII story about the use of art, drama in the war. This group of soldiers jobs was to create a false illusion about US troops to fool the Germans. Many of these soldiers were artists and returned to civilian life and became known artists. They were not allowed to talk about what they did in the service for many years in case this device would be needed again. ( )

Every time I read a WWII book, I learn something new that I had no idea had happened during the war. This was an interesting, but heavy read and read a little more like a history text book, than a fictional historical novel. The author did a great job with the research and facts as well as the layout of what all happened during this foiling. The things people did to save others still amazes me, when they were putting their lives literally at risk as well. This was a great in depth factual look at a mission from the war. Thank you to LibraryThing for the free book I won in a giveaway. ( )

I listened to Secret Soldiers: How the U. S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis because it was on Audiobooksync for summer, 2020. I thought the book sounded intriguing. I'm always hesitant to listen to non-fiction; I do better reading it because it's hard to remember everything, unable to flip back as I would in a book to remind me who someone is. I really liked it.

The troops of the Twenty-Third were tasked with creating false "trails." It's 1944, close to the end of the war, they were truly called in to make a difference. They would create sounds, camouflage, false radio signals among other things to imply soldiers were located in certain places or movements were about to happen or soldiers were setting up camp to hide what was really happening. People believe what they hear, so it would sound like troops moving about and men getting settled, but in reality, it was just sounds. Even when planes flew overhead, they would see tanks and men--it was all fake. The artists created a scene. They were really, really good at what they did. If there was a hole in the line and the Germans knew, they could break through. Making the Germans think soldiers were there, means they didn't advance to that area and try to break through. The real troops could then surprise the Germans and be somewhere else.

The book also tells about the different soldiers and how they contributed to the world after the war, so you find out that these were successful men. They were talented and had ambition. They served their country and then still created and gave to the world after the war. When the Germans surrendered and the eastern war was over, the 23rd feared that they would be sent to do the same thing with the Japanese in the western war. They didn't think it would work because they thought the Japanese were too smart. Not that Germans weren't smart, but Hitler was arrogant and didn't always listen to the people around him. In the end, you learn a great deal about a group of men who were top secret for 50 years. They were not allowed to talk about what they did for most of their lives. It's good that they can now get recognition and we can celebrate their talents. If you like history and WWII and knowing about interesting soldiers, read this book. ( )

Amazing, sometimes humorous, touching and almost unbelievable. Extremely well narrated. Leaves me with the question - why are governments so set on secrecy for fifty years. If they fear what they have taken part in so much, why do it? As Russia seems determined to take over the world (or China or whoever) isn't it just as dangerous now?

In his third book about deception during war, Paul B. Janeczko focuses his lens on World War II and the operations carried out by the Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops, aka the Ghost Army. This remarkable unit included actors, camouflage experts, sound engineers, painters, and set designers who used their skills to secretly and systematically replace fighting units — fooling the Nazi army into believing what their eyes and ears told them, even though the sights and sounds of tanks and war machines and troops were entirely fabricated. Follow the Twenty-Third into Europe as they play a dangerous game of enticing the German army into making battlefield mistakes by using sonic deceptions, inflatable tanks, pyrotechnics, and camouflage in more than twenty operations. From the Normandy invasion to the crossing of the Rhine River, the men of the Ghost Army — several of whom went on to become famous artists and designers after the war — played an improbable role in the Allied victory. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommend: Yes
Level: High School

This was a detailed account of a previously classified aspect of World War II. These soldiers created fake tanks and camps to trick the Nazis into thinking their were troops in more locations than there actually were. They did this to distract the Nazis from real troop movement so they could get the upper hand. The overall narrative about these special troops was fascinating and descriptive. There were also highlighted sections to give more information about specific individuals and their work. I think it would be more appealing to those interested in World War II or the military since the language uses military terms and is fairly dense detailed material. However, I was interested and it taught me about an aspect of history I'd never heard about before. Great new stories to add to a history until in school or for intrigued readers. ( )