united_kingdom british_army raised second world war defend norfolk coast possible german invasion transformed training division late new recruits army assigned division complete training fully trained recruits allocated formations fighting overseas formation source reinforcements fighting normandy available british army troops left united_kingdom france division disbanded september addition actual formation phantom formed deception phantom division fictitious operation aimed germans believing allied landing occur northern german coast deception effort complete success managed divert german attention northern flank remainder war background early stages second world war following united_kingdom threat invasion nazi_germany summer threat year progressed size british_army increased dramatically new infantry battalions raised late possibility german invasion new battalions formed independent infantry brigades loaned newly created including men strong assigned defend coast threatened sections country undertaking defensive tasks including manning coastal artillery divisions largely static lacking mobility divisional assets artillery engineers reconnaissance forces new formations manner allowed pre war regular infantry divisions undertake training form important reserve counter attack possible german landing june germany launched operation invasion soviet_union attack removed german threat united_kingdom british consider threat invasion possibility soviet_union collapse german onslaught germany easily transfer troops west arrival winter late threat invasion subsided coupled production new equipment british army allowed begin steps better balance army large number infantry units formed preceding year half reform county divisions disbanded history home defence war divisions british_army divided higher establishment lower establishment formations intended deployment overseas combat strictly home defence static role november abolished reformed lower establishment division division like predecessor comprised day division assigned artillery anti tank regiment engineers reconnaissance troops joined division january paper strength infantry division time men major general commanded inception retained command division assigned maintained previous mission defending norfolk coastline comments division insignia red norfolk sail association division norfolk division training formation insignia worn permanent division members division involved establishing ability german military intelligence german published order battle british army based united_kingdom dated april captured document included division near perfect listing subordinate units exception including germans believed 18th replaced similar errors led british understand capability germans intercept wireless communications united_kingdom led operation plan exploit german ability intelligence community future allied operations like operation overlord training formation winter army overhauled training recruits divisions changed lower establishment unit december division renamed training formation process divisions supplemented fourth training formation raised january assigned moved soldiers completed corps training sent training divisions soldiers given weeks additional training section platoon company level undertaking final day exercise troops ready sent overseas join formations training handled manner relieve divisions replacements units allow train having handle new recruits example provided recruits battalions regiment period command division changed times december replaced turn replaced march june training divisions combined total men number immediately available replacements remaining men considered ineligible service abroad variety reasons ranging medical considered fully fit fully trained following months cent men deployed reinforce 21st army group following completion training having met required fitness levels comments september dry losses suffered leaving army britain exception 52nd young old men unfit september division disbanded assumed command took role deception creation fictitious division arose actual reorganisation british forces british_army facing manpower crisis army men replace losses line infantry efforts address transferring men royal_air_force infantry began disbanding divisions reduce size army transfer men units help close strength possible lower establishment divisions united_kingdom chosen disbanded force deception staff seized opportunity retain division phantom unit cover story established explain change division status claimed war nearing end divisions revert peacetime recruiting role release equipment resources units transfer equipment raised assigned reinforce 21st army group deception unit division assigned initially envisioned fictitious amphibious assault coast netherlands phantom exploit success authentic operation market garden failed invasion plan temporarily scrapped revived convince germans land near support imaginary assault launched west netherlands deception effort kept wound january despite british attempts germans possible landing germans believing reported germans remained anxious landing northern coast remainder war general officer commanding commanders included order battle
76th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)