336:. These containers were then dropped over enemy territory. A small capsule was fixed to a pigeon leg, which contained a questionnaire, a pencil, and instructions to ensure the safe return of the pigeons to England. The aim was that the pigeons would land in German towns and be found there by cooperative residents who would answer the questions. Afterwards they were to be sent back to England with the information gained, for instance troop strength near the village. Of 330 pigeons used, only nine returned to England and two flew to
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143:(SIS), a plan was made to invent a suitable resistance movement. This measure was intended to involve the German security organs in practically useless activities tracking down the fictitious resistance fighters. The intention was to create confusion and tie up important resources. It was also hoped — after something had possibly been leaked among the German population about such resistance movements — a few courageous Germans would actually support these activities.
278:. To draw more attention to this goal among the German population, agents were commissioned to place this horse symbol on various buildings or objects while postcards were sent to prominent Germans containing threatening texts, showing the Red Horse symbol. Recipients were asked to commit suicide, with the hidden meaning that this was more honourable than being liquidated by "Red Horse".
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Periwig is considered a failure. Apart from the severe restrictions imposed by the SIS and SHAEF, the actions during the war were also too late. Through earlier planning, a free hand in the actions, and full support from other intelligence institutions, Periwig could possibly have made a significant
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To support SOE for
Periwig, the PWE took over some tasks related to the printing of propaganda material from March 1945. After a new resistance network called "Red Horse" had been invented for the operation, the PWE also distributed printed material with the horse symbol of the fictitious resistance
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When the concerns of the SIS were dispelled in mid-February 1945, Periwig was able to start. The first step was manipulated radio messages to
Germany. From 21 February 1945, the first containers with supplies and forged information material for the alleged resistance cells were dropped by plane. The
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would be able to carry out activities in
Germany between the individual cells and communicate with Britain. Other persons employed as agents would maintain regular contact with London. For all other hypothetical resistance movements, similar procedures were worked out that would have been expected
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When the plan to carry out the operation took on a more concrete form in
January 1945, objections were raised above all by the SIS, which feared that its plans to indoctrinate the enemy could be thwarted by Periwig. An alleged support of hypothetical resistance cells could endanger real anti-Nazi
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At the beginning of the war, the
British secret service was aware that it was practically impossible to establish a real resistance movement in Germany. Due to the almost insurmountable surveillance by the German security organs, it was considered hopeless to attempt creating such a complex
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308:. It is believed that Gauleiter Hoffmann was one of the next candidates for an assassination attempt. This description was followed by a list of Nazi members who already had been liquidated and ended with the text that now also the mayor of
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and other important cities in
Germany were chosen as further locations for resistance cells. All cells were to be connected through regular Wehrmacht and personal contact. The office of the Wehrmacht resistance movement in
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prisoners. In early to mid-April 1945, a number of trustworthy German prisoners of war were dropped as alleged agents over German territory. There they were to perform various
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312:, Dr. Piclum, had disappeared without trace. He, too, had received several threatening letters, which only showed the red horse symbol as signature.
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In
November 1944 the planning group of Operation Periwig had eight scenarios for a hypothetical resistance movement. Groups of people within the
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To draw attention to the alleged resistance movement in
Germany, suitable deceptive measures were devised. Containers with weapons,
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activities for the claimed resistance cells. The prisoners of war were not aware that these cells did not exist in reality.
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292:(Special surveillance for threatened Gauleiters). It announced that three additional armoured vehicles and 24 men of the
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material, food and the like were to be dropped by aeroplane over supply points of the ostensible resistance movement.
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Propaganda postcard sent in the context of
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388:"5 Special Operations Executive Missions Conducted By World War II Britain's Secret Soldiers"
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could misuse such drops of weapons or material near POW camps to commit the murder of
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as spy assistants. From 4 April 1945 pigeons were packed in containers attached to
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The Wehrmacht resistance movement was to be assigned its headquarters in
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from 7 February 1945. The caption reads (translated): "Watch out, horse!"
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The final action of Periwig consisted of the extraordinary plan to use
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group. The "goal" of this group was the execution of high-ranking Nazi
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by feigning resistance movements within the German territory.
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Questionnaire, which was attached in capsules to pigeon legs
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operation was suspended again from mid-March 1945, as the
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Extract from an article in the German Wehrmacht magazine
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243:Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
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106:(SOE) from November 1944 onwards during the
413:SOE's ultimate deception: Operation Periwig
390:. allthatsinteresting.com. 10 December 2017
99:operation planned and carried out by the
68:Learn how and when to remove this message
285:(News for the troops) with the headline
123:structure, especially since all British
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415:, Stroud: Sutton, 2005,
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298:Westphalia
261:Propaganda
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217:ammunition
177:Reichsbahn
118:Background
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289:Gauleiter
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131:Planning
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394:1 April
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169:mining
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