Secret Soldiers: How the U.S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis

Gr 9 Up—The use of spies and intercepting information regarding enemies' movements are key to winning any military campaign. But what if the enemy was actually sending false signals, setting up fake encampments and using sophisticated recording equipment to simulate movement that never really happened? Such was the task of the Twenty-Third Special Troops in the European Theater of World War II. Their actions and techniques were so secret they remained classified for 50 years after the war ended. This title follows their story from the conception and recruitment of the units to their final mission and return home. While the beginning is a bit confusing with lots of detail and a rapidly introduced large cast of characters, a rhythm develops taking readers on a journey of intrigue across Europe. This title is not a good choice for a first-time military history reader, as the military jargon begins on page one and little background of the overall conflict is provided throughout. However, for those with a mental map of the war, this book will provide delightful details of a very specialized and secret group. Biographical sketches of many of the members of the Twenty-Third Special Troops are included as well as brief sidebars detailing related topics. Plentiful photographs and maps are included throughout.