This weekend marks the 60th anniversary of the ill-fated attempt to establish a bridgehead across the Rhine, in the operation which was known as Market Garden.

Little was achieved during the operation, Polish and British forces bore the brunt of the fighting (and the casualties), and appalling reprisals were taken against the Dutch Civilian population. Many were executed or taken to concentration camps and the towns of Arnhem and Oosterbek were 'evacuated' by the Germans and organised looting was undertaken as a reprisal....

Perhaps not as well-known as other Campaigns such as Normandy or the Pacific campaigns, Arnhem nevertheless was one of the most brutal and costly campaigns of the war in Europe.

Another of these anniversaries when it is worthwhile spending a moment or two considering just what sacrifices were made for a freedom we all take for granted....Jim


(Above), the John Frost Bridge today)

(Above) The Bridge in September 1944

And if anyone want to find out more about Market Garden campain, "A Bridge Too Far" book by Cornelius Ryan is a MUST read!

Pawel

Not if you want to read a real account rather than Ryans little meanderings... 'Bridge too far''? Good book, but not that great...

For Arnhem try these...

Middlebrook - Arnhem 1944
Harvey - Arnhem
Kershaw - It Never Snows in September
Haclerode - Arnhem - Tragedy of Errors

If ya want more lemme know. I have a ton of books on Arnhem.

As for the operation itself...

Little was achieved? Well a salient into the German lines, several important bridges and the resistence of the British Airborne at Arnhem showed the fine troops GB could produce.

BUt yes it was what Monty called 'a 90% successful' operation. It could have worked, but the mistakes were made during the planning stage. Not so much to do with the German opposition/ Intelligence as authors such as Ryan would like us to believe. The German forces were not the sole reason for the failure, although their response helped. The real reasons lay in the planning of the operation and the unwillingness to fly two drops on day one. They broke the key rule of airborne operations. Always deliver everyone on day one...

Cornelius Ryan's book was NEVER intended as a 'definitive' history of the Market Garden Campaign. Rather it was a personal account by the participants themselves. Like any book on a historical event, much depends on where you are standing at the time...

I have taken part in several simulations (under the auspices of the British Military) and yes, a number of factors come into play - the resupply problem was one of the recurring factors although the weather was always an issue. I agree that there were major faults in the planning stage - a curious change in the attitude of Montgomery from his normally (over) cautious nature to what some historians and military experts have derided as foolhardy...

'A Bridge Too Far' (the book, not the film), still remains an excellent 'primer' on MG. If history were black and white it would be considered a science...Jim

Monty had little to do with the planning.

Had he done so then it may have been different. He himself said that he should have taken more interest in the planning stages.

Re-supply was always going to be a problem as the plan was flawed from the outset.

The planning was by Brereton and Browning. Brereton refused two lifts on the first day due to fears over flak at Deelen airfield. Had they opted for two lifts, then the 1st Airborne could have landed in its entirity on day one. Had the intel of panzer units in the area been passed to junior commanders then chamges could have been made in equipment allocation, as remarked on by Frost. Further from that a single battalion advance into Arnhem rather than wide three battalion advance been adopted with Frost up front, its a chance that three battaluions would have got to the bridge.

Even without these changes, just stopping Browning using 36 gliders to take his command, would have helped at Arnhem. Especially as the HQ of 1st Allied AIrborne Army played little useful role in the battle.

Weather and re-supply would have mattered little if the it had been carefully planned and they tried to insert the whole of 1st Airborne on day one. There are many other variants to Market-Garden. But I think these are the bigger changes that could have effected the outcome.

Ryan... Good for personal narrative and overview. Limited in historical analysis of the op.

That's what I meant. Other books, with more analytic approach may contain more scientific value, but are often very hard to "consume". Ryan's book is just very well written and provides enough information for a layman.

Pawel

Please not this is not the original bridge, as this has been blown up by the Allies after the Battle for Arnhem has ended.

I know, also the area (on this side) of the bridge was lowered as well...At least the bridge was built in the same style...Jim

I had the opportunity to take part in the 49th anniversay jump into the last useable drop zone at Arnhem. There were four Canadians in the jump which was conducted by 10 Para. WE marched to 25 odd Kilometres to the bridge where we were given our British Parachute wings. An unforgetable memory.

Many people are unaware of the operation that ended the whole chapter. Operation Berlin was the name for the resuce operation which was conducted by the 23 Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and the 260th, 553rd and 20th Field Companies of the Royal Engineers. As luck would have it the 23rd was placed directly across from the main concentration of survivors North-East of Driel. Beacuse they were using outboard motor powered storm boats, they were able to evacuate teh majority of survivors. In the process six members of the Company were killed and five were wounded. Because of this action, it was decided to keep the number 23 permanently on the engineer order of battle. It is currently referred to as 23 Field Squadron and is part of 2Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa Ontario. The crest of the Black Cat in a storm boat designed for the unit immediately after Op Berlin has been to Korea (1952), Iraq and Kuwait (1992), Bosnia (1998) and will be going to Afghanistan this year.

Chimo!

Yeah Paul, unfortunately many people assume the only rescue was carried out by the U.S. 101st Airborne... One of the sillier mistakes in Band Of Brothers..I will say no more ..Jim

Before we get bogged down in an academic discussion, perhaps this should remind us of what happened there 60 years ago...Jim

This is the Allied Cemetery at Oosterbek...

Jim,
I will note that Band of Brothers identified the troops operating the storm boats as Canadian Engineers. Our corps has done a lot but gets rare recognition in the media. Nevertheless it was welcome. The complete report of the evacuation is included in Maple Leaf Route Antwerp by Terry Copp and Robert Vogel ISBN 0-919907-03-2.

If the plan was flawed, why did they still push through with it?