Operação Bodyguard (1943 – 1945): um exemplo histórico do impacto da contrainteligência em operações militares

Abstract

This paper addresses the importance of counterintelligence in the context of military planning, using Operation Bodyguard, specifically Suboperation Fortitude during World War II, as the study object. The research aims to investigate how the counterintelligence activities developed in Suboperation Fortitude were crucial for the success of the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, as planned in Operation Overlord. The relevance of this topic is justified by its practical application in contemporary military operations and its historical value. The methodology employed involves a historical analysis of the operation carried out by the Allies, with an emphasis on counterintelligence embedded in the planning and execution of these operations. The objectives of the work include describing counterintelligence activities, detailing military planning, and ultimately relating them to assess their impact on Operation Bodyguard. Counterintelligence will be presented as an essential component of intelligence aimed at protecting knowledge and military operations against internal and external threats. Military planning will be described as a complex and integrated process, fundamental for the effective execution of military operations. The analysis of Operation Bodyguard, particularly Operation Fortitude, from the perspective of counterintelligence and military planning, will allow us to observe how counterintelligence played a decisive role in protecting Allied information, using deception and misinformation resources to confuse the Germans, culminating in the success of Operation Overlord.