| 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division | |
|---|---|
_Division_(United_Kingdom)&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:British_80th_Infantry_(Reserve)_Badge.svg){kind=icon} | |
| Active | 1 January 1943 – 1 September 1944[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Training and deception |
The 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed at the beginning of 1943, during the Second World War. For the twenty months that the division existed, it was a training formation. It was made responsible for providing final tactical and field training to soldiers who had already passed their initial training. After five additional weeks of training, the soldiers would be posted to fighting formations overseas. Notably, the division was used as a source of reinforcements for the 21st Army Group, which was fighting in Normandy. After all available troops left the United Kingdom for France, the division was disbanded.
A phantom 80th Infantry Division was formed in the division's place to aid the Operation Fortitude deception effort that supported the invasion of France. This division was part of the notional British Fourth Army, which was portrayed as part of the threatened Allied landing at the Pas de Calais. The overall deception plan was successful, and affected the German response to the Allied invasion. The phantom division was "disbanded" towards the end of the war.
- ^ Joslen 2003, p. 103.