During World War II, a group of servicemen used inflatable tanks and Hollywood-style special effects to deceive the Nazis, which has now earned them the Congressional Gold Medal, the US Congress’ highest honor. Seymour Nussenbaum, John Christman, and Bernard Bluestein were part of covert US units that employed clever tactics to save lives across Europe in 1944 and 1945. They rarely spoke of their courageous actions, but being honored was a moment of pride for them.
The group’s tactics involved using actors and various tricks to mislead the German army into sending troops to the wrong locations, creating a “travelling road show.” They successfully led the German forces to believe a massive Allied army was about to attack across the Rhine River using inflatable tanks and trucks, sound effects, and fake radio traffic. This deception resulted in minimal resistance at the actual Rhine crossing point, helping the Allied advance greatly.
Despite their incredible efforts, Nussenbaum and Bluestein rarely talk about their experiences during the war. Nussenbaum prefers not to “beat his own drum,” while Bluestein simply tells his family he did “camouflage work” during that time, keeping the more dangerous aspects of their missions to himself. Their actions were crucial in the war effort, but they remain humble about their contributions.