How did Ultra help Allied planners prepare for the Normandy invasion?

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The Ultra intelligence project was instrumental in the success of the Normandy invasion by providing Allied planners with high-grade, actionable military intelligence. By decrypting top-secret German communications, the Allies gained a clear and accurate picture of where German counterattack forces were deployed.12

Specifically, intelligence derived from the Tunny machine—which carried high-level messages between the German high command and field generals—offered detailed insights into German strategy and their specific counter-preparations for the anticipated invasion of northern France.2

This information allowed Allied commanders to proceed with maximum strategic effect. Furthermore, the Allies used this intelligence to support deception operations, such as Operation Fortitude, which successfully misled the Germans regarding the actual location of the landings by creating the illusion of a phantom army preparing to strike the Pas-de-Calais area instead of Normandy.1