Home News WWII ‘Ghost Army’ that fooled Nazis receives Congressional Gold Medal

WWII ‘Ghost Army’ that fooled Nazis receives Congressional Gold Medal


Members of the World War II “Ghost Army” received Congress’ highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, at a ceremony on Thursday.

The “Ghost Army” earned its name during the Allied advance into Europe, when it was tasked with deceiving the Nazis by setting up fake military units full of inflatable plastic tanks, sound machines and phony generals.

“I guess we were successful because the Germans fired upon us,” Ghost Army veteran Bernie Bluestein told the Washington Post. “We convinced them that we were the real thing.”

Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson presents the Congressional Gold Medal to veteran of the Ghost Army Bernie Bluestein as fellow Ghost Army veteran Seymour Nussenbaum (left) attends the event during a presentation ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center on March 21, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson presents the Congressional Gold Medal to veteran of the Ghost Army Bernie Bluestein as fellow Ghost Army veteran Seymour Nussenbaum (left) attends the event during a presentation ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center on March 21, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Bluestein was one of three surviving members of the Ghost Army who attended Thursday’s ceremony, alongside John Christman and Seymour Nussenbaum. There are only seven known surviving members of the unit.

At its height, the Ghost Army had about 1,300 soldiers, the vast majority in the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops. But they were capable of pretending to be about 30,000 men — two whole divisions — which they did in missions across France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.

The Ghost Army performed 22 missions beginning about two weeks after D-Day, exaggerating the size of the American forces as they pushed further into Europe.

Escorted by Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (left), veteran of the Ghost Army Bernie Bluestein (third from left) arrives at a Congressional Gold Medal presentation ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center on March 21, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Escorted by Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (left), veteran of the Ghost Army Bernie Bluestein (third from left) arrives at a Congressional Gold Medal presentation ceremony at the Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center on March 21, 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The unit’s final mission, Operation Viersen, was one of its most important. On March 18, 1945, they set up shop near the Rhine River, putting up inflatable tanks and running sound systems constantly.

German commanders bought the ruse, moving troops across from the Ghost Army while the 9th Army crossed the Rhine elsewhere.

“This was an all-hands-on-deck affair and it was completely successful,” Ghost Army historian Rick Beyer said. “It fooled the Germans. They moved their troops to the river opposite where the deception was.”

Ghost Army members John Christman, of Leesburg, N.J., second from left standing, Seymour Nussenbaum, of Monroe Township, N.J, in wheelchair at left, and Bernard Bluestein, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., in wheelchair at right, join military and congressional officials as members of their secretive WWII-era unit are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Ghost Army members John Christman, of Leesburg, N.J., second from left standing, Seymour Nussenbaum, of Monroe Township, N.J, in wheelchair at left, and Bernard Bluestein, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., in wheelchair at right, join military and congressional officials as members of their secretive WWII-era unit are presented with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

In total, the Ghost Army was credited with saving between 15,000 and 30,000 American lives. Their operations remained classified until 1996, as military leaders wanted to keep the scheme secret in case it was needed during the Cold War.

In 2022, President Biden signed a law that would honor the Ghost Army units with the Congressional Gold Medal.

“More than 75 years after defeating fascism in Europe,” Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) said, “it’s time these soldiers receive the highest honor we can award.”

With News Wire Services

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