

Saturday Matinee: D-Day: The Tide Turns
Jun 7, 2025
Explore the high-stakes espionage behind D-Day, where clever deception kept Allied plans secret. Discover the daring British torpedo boat's mission to gather crucial intelligence from occupied France. Learn about Operation Fortitude, a masterful ruse that misled German forces with fake military operations and double agents. Uncover the art of storytelling used by a British double agent to navigate the complexities of wartime misinformation. Dive into the intricate web of tactics that shaped one of history's most pivotal moments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Secret Sand Sampling Mission
- British commandos collected sand samples from Normandy's Gold Beach on New Year's Eve 1943.
- This risky intelligence mission helped assess beach terrain for the upcoming D-Day invasion.
Normandy's Strategic Choice
- Normandy was chosen over Pas de Calais due to lighter defenses despite being farther.
- Five beaches were selected, allowing a massive infantry landing to break through German lines.
Operation Fortitude's Deception
- Operation Fortitude was an elaborate deception hiding the real invasion location.
- Fake armies, tanks, and radio signals convinced the Germans the attack was elsewhere.