Double Cross: Deception Techniques in War

by Paul B. Janeczko

Overview

How does deception factor into fighting wars, and is it effective? In an intriguing companion to The Dark Game, Paul B. Janeczko reveals the truth about the strategic lies of war.

The biblical account of Gideon. The ancient story of the Trojan horse. Deceptive techniques have been used in war through the ages. But while the principles have changed very little, the technology behind fooling the enemy has evolved dramatically. Paul B. Janeczko’s fascinating chronology focuses on the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf Wars to reveal evolving attitudes toward the use and effectiveness of deceptive operations. Find out the secret plan behind the invasion of Normandy and the details of General Schwarzkopf’s “Hail Mary play” during the Gulf War, among many other strategies and maneuvers designed to pull the wool over enemies' eyes. Back matter includes source notes, a bibliography, and an index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763660420
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	05/23/2017
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,254,894
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Paul B. Janeczko (1945–2019) was a poet and teacher who edited numerous award-winning poetry anthologies for young people, including A Poke in the I, A Kick in the Head, A Foot in the Mouth, and The Death of the Hat, all of which were illustrated by Chris Raschka; Firefly July, illustrated by Melissa Sweet; and The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems, illustrated by Richard Jones. He also wrote Worlds Afire; Requiem: Poems of the Terezín Ghetto; Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing; Double Cross: Deception Techniques in War; The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles, a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults; and Secret Soldiers: How the U.S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Deception Basics 1

Chapter 1 Early Deceptions 9

Signals and Ciphers in the Civil War 24

Chapter 2 Camouflage and Haversacks 33

Camouflage in Nature 38

Chapter 3 Operation Bertram 67

Naming Secret Ops 72

Chapter 4 Operation Bodyguard 93

Radar 98

Chapter 5 Fortitude North 109

Telegraph Transmission 114

Chapter 6 Fortitude South 141

Bletchley Park 150

Chapter 7 Deception After World War II 175

The Global Positioning System 206

Source Notes 223

Bibliography 235

Image Credits 238

Index 241

Editorial Reviews

For kids who enjoy reading about war, this is catnip.
—Booklist

This engaging, well-written text flows smoothly with good transitions among ideas...this is a dependable, interesting title that would be a useful addition for middle school libraries, or for high school libraries with large populations of low-level or struggling readers.
—VOYA

The intent here...is to offer fascinating case studies in the way deceptive strategy augments (or even supplants) fire power, and Janeczko carries the day.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A top selection for those serious about military studies.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—One cannot always believe one's eyes or ears, especially if one is engaged in war. Janeczko opens with the story of the Trojan horse and explains that though it may have been based in mythology, it is still a solid example of a tactic referred to as a "feint." Janeczko then describes Gideon's biblical victory over the Midianites in the Old Testament. Readers who are familiar with the major operations of World War I and World War II will learn how an enormous number of military deceptions were planned and executed (e.g., the escape of thousands of Allied troops from Gallipoli while under the eyes of Turkish forces in the First World War). The author touches briefly on U.S. wars in Korea and Vietnam, where many of these techniques were considered to be outdated or somewhat dishonest. The last section describes how deceptions and GPS were successfully used against Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War. However, the work ends rather abruptly, with no real conclusion. VERDICT A top selection for those serious about military studies. Otherwise, a secondary purchase.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS

School Library Journal

2017-01-17
In this companion to Top Secret (2006) and The Dark Game (2010), his books on secret codes and spying, respectively, Janeczko examines how subterfuge has been used in warfare for thousands of years.In an engaging, informative narrative, Janeczko chronicles how such deceptive techniques as concealment, camouflage, planted false information, double bluff, ruse, and more have been used to great success in battles and campaigns in the Civil War, world wars I and II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf wars. Carefully defining these terms of military art and beginning with the biblical account of Gideon, Janeczko explains how "demonstration" (false military preparations) and "feint" (distraction) were used to defeat the Midianites. A feigned retreat led to William the Conqueror's victory in the Battle of Hastings. Confederate Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson's masterful use of deceptive strategies made him one of the most successful Civil War commanders. The invasion of Normandy is the quintessential example of deception in extent and overwhelming success. Janeczko explains that, although principles of deception in warfare have changed little over time, the technology behind fooling the enemy has evolved dramatically. He also examines evolving attitudes about the use and effectiveness of duplicitous strategies. The narrative ends abruptly, with discussion of Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf's use of deception techniques in Operation Desert Storm. A fascinating chronicle of the longtime role of trickery in warfare. (maps, photos, source notes, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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