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Operation Mincemeat - possessions of Major Martin
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Operation Mincemeat - possessions of Major Martin
Personal possessions of Major William Martin, found when his body was washed ashore in Spain on 30th April 1943 carrying sensitive documents, an elaborate and successful deception by British forces in World War Two (codenamed Operation Mincemeat) to convince German high command that the Allies were planning to attack Greece and Sardinia in 1943 rather than Sicily, the actual objective. Major Martin never in fact existed and his body was that of Glyndwr Michael, a homeless man who had died in January 1943. Among his personal possessions are a watch, Players cigarettes, matches, keys, wallet and a leather-covered chain which British intelligence used to attach the briefcase containing the false documents to the body. Date: 1943
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Media ID 14126806
© Mary Evans / The National Archives, London. England
1943 Chain Cigarettes Covered Deception Hoax Intelligence Keys Leather Major Martin Matches Mincemeat Operation Possessions Wallet Watch
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the personal possessions of Major William Martin, a figure central to one of the most intriguing deceptions in World War Two history: Operation Mincemeat. Discovered on the shores of Huelva, Spain on April 30, 1943, the body of Major Martin carried sensitive documents that were intended to mislead the German high command. The documents, which detailed plans for an invasion of Greece and Sardinia, were in fact a carefully crafted hoax designed to divert German forces away from the true objective: the invasion of Sicily. Major Martin, it was later revealed, never existed. Instead, the body was that of Glyndwr Michael, a homeless man who had died in January 1943. The British intelligence services had meticulously planted the false documents on Michael's corpse, using a leather-covered chain to attach the briefcase containing the documents to the body. Among Major Martin's possessions are a watch, a packet of Players cigarettes, matches, keys, and a wallet. These ordinary items add a poignant human touch to the extraordinary story of Operation Mincemeat, a deception that played a crucial role in the Allied victory in the Mediterranean. This photograph is a fascinating glimpse into the past, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the intricacies of wartime intelligence and the lengths to which nations will go to secure victory. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, and the often-surprising ways in which history unfolds.
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