Operation Ferdinand

Impact

Operation Ferdinand successfully led Framed Heere West (German military intelligence for the Western Front, also referred to as FHW) to expect a landing in Genoa. In late July and early August the buildup of forces in Italy made it clear that a seaborne invasion was coming, and the deception was successful in creating a realistic threat to Genoa. As a result, the Operation Dragoon landings achieved complete tactical surprise. British wartime intelligence historian Michael Howard calls it the "most successful of 'A' Force's strategic operations”. However, Howard states that the overwhelming force used for Operation Dragoon meant that the element of surprise was less important than on D-Day.