33rd Headquarters

• Origins in Deception: The 33rd Headquarters Company is most famously linked to the U.S. Army's "Ghost Army" during World War II—a top-secret unit specializing in tactical deception against German forces. • Official Name: The full designation was the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, but the unit was sometimes informally referenced as the "33rd Headquarters" due to its internal organizational structure. • Artists and Creatives: The unit recruited artists, set designers, sound engineers, and advertising professionals to create realistic fake army units and deception operations. • Inflatable Tanks: The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, rubber airplanes, and dummy artillery to fool enemy reconnaissance and mislead the Germans about the strength and location of Allied forces. • Sound Deception: They pioneered battlefield audio deception, using massive speakers to play recorded sounds of troop movements and construction, sometimes audible up to 15 miles away. • Radio Trickery: Expert radio operators imitated the radio traffic of real divisions, further convincing the enemy that large forces were present where only the Ghost Army operated. • Key Operations: The 33rd Headquarters participated in more than 20 deception operations, including the famous Operation Brest and the misdirection prior to the Rhine River crossing in Operation Plunder. • Secrecy Maintained: The Ghost Army’s existence remained classified for nearly 50 years after the war, with details only declassified in the 1990s. • Casualties and Risk: Despite their non-combat role, members of the unit operated close to the front lines and sometimes came under enemy fire, with several soldiers wounded during their missions. • Legacy and Recognition: In 2022, the Ghost Army, including the 33rd Headquarters Company, was collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for its unique and critical contributions to Allied success in World War II.