A decryption machine (U.S. Air Force photo)

Jargon buster

A decryption machine (U.S. Air Force photo)

What is a bogus map? What does BIGOT mean?

What was SHAEF? What does BARV stand for? What were hedgehogs doing on the Normandy beaches?

D-Day produced thousands of code names, acronyms, abbreviations and many other strange and unusual terms and names!

We have compiled a list of some of the most common terms related to D-Day. If you think something is missing, please let us know.

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
"I"

ISTD

Inter-Services Topographical Department. Established in 1940, ISTD prepared intelligence reports and maps for the Allied forces, based on reconnaissance such as aerial photography.