Operation Bertram

A lesser known deception operation carried out by the Allied forces in Egypt in 1942, Operation Bertram was lauded as one of the most successful British operations in the Second World War. The main objective of the mission was to deceive Axis forces of the timing and location of an attack. The operation consisted of the use of physical deceptions such as dummies and camouflage as well as electromagnetic deceptions using false radio traffic. The sole purpose of the mission was to make the Axis believe that the attack was to take place south, far from the coast, road and railway and two days later than the real attack.

The battle ensued and the Allies, who had the element of surprise as an advantage, managed to win and defeat the Axis. The captured and detained General and stand-in General both admitted that they believed the attack would be in the south and would happen only after a few weeks’ time.

The operation was a success and received recognition and praise from the likes of Winston Churchill. Operation Bertram is the epitome of how it may take soldiers and guns to fight a war but it takes wit and intellect to win them.

Written by: Kevin Manoj