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Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565
Posted by: Platon Alexiades ()
Date: February 14, 2015 04:55PM

Hello Francesco,

You might be interested to read "Operation Mincemeat" by Ben Macintyre, a very good study on the subject. There are also other sources at the National Archives.

However I have to agree with you that the effect of this operation appears to have been minimal on Axis strategy. A little correction: the supposed objective of Mincemeat was not the Dodecanese but the west coast of the Peloponnese where the 5th and 56th Divisions were supposed to land.The Dodecanese and Sicily were supposed to be feints. While doing my research on the Corinth Canal I came across files indicating the Germans took the threat with some seriousness but did not have the means to oppose it. Apparently units from the Brandenburg Division were moved to the Peloponnese and minefields were laid off the Peloponnese west coast but not much to deplete the Sicilian defences.

Macintyre mentions that the 1st Panzer Division was moved to Salonika. Perhaps, but I do not think that it went to the Peloponnese. At that time, the Germans were probably more concerned on the upcoming operations against the Kursk salient to divert forces to Greece.
A couple of minor corrections: the submarine involved was HMS SERAPH, the operation was HUSKY.

All the best,

Platon

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Subject Written By Posted
The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 Francesco Mattesini 06/26/2014 03:18PM
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 enielsen 07/23/2014 05:08PM
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 Francesco Mattesini 02/11/2015 09:49AM
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 Platon Alexiades 02/14/2015 04:55PM
Re: The Mystery of William Martin U-616 and U-565 Francesco Mattesini 02/18/2015 03:52PM


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