I recently read Antony Beevor's excellent book: The Battle of Arnhem.
I highly recommend the book.
The Battle of Arnhem
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Guest_viking_*
, May 25 2020 09:28 AM
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Post #3 Guest_viking_*
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Posted 25 May 2020 - 02:30 PM
BT,
He covers all phases of Operation Market Garden comprehensively. But he also provides the reader with the Germans' point of view about the battle, which I found quite interesting.
Moreover, he wrote about the Betuwe (also known as the Island of Men), the evacuation and looting of Arnhem and the Hunger Winter, which occurred in the wake of Operation Market Garden. Some of these topics are sometimes glossed over by other military historians, yet Beevor gives the reader a view of the postscript implications of the battle for the Dutch people.
I know you will enjoy the book.
He covers all phases of Operation Market Garden comprehensively. But he also provides the reader with the Germans' point of view about the battle, which I found quite interesting.
Moreover, he wrote about the Betuwe (also known as the Island of Men), the evacuation and looting of Arnhem and the Hunger Winter, which occurred in the wake of Operation Market Garden. Some of these topics are sometimes glossed over by other military historians, yet Beevor gives the reader a view of the postscript implications of the battle for the Dutch people.
I know you will enjoy the book.
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Post #6
arnhemjim
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Posted 29 May 2020 - 12:50 PM
Believe it or not Anthony Beevor’s book Arnhem was published in 2018, and for a period of time was ranked and running as the top international best selling non-fiction book. It certainly meets and probably surpasses Cornelius Ryan’s Ryan’s classic, A Bridge Too Far, replete with significantly additional original source documentation. As you may know he has served on active duty, as a commissioned officer with the British Army He had been previously awarded a knighthood in 2017. Certainly well deserved. One of the most significant revelations he came up with was the following: (Author's note: Apparently I was in error. It is extremely interesting to learn in his new book (currently ranked #1 International Best Seller), ARNHEM The Battle for the Bridges, 1944, eminent and knighted British military historian, Antony Beevor OBE (himself a former serving officer in the British Army) relates a recollection by Captain Eddie Newbury, Browning's aide, from 15 September 1944. "Urquhart appeared in Browning's office on the second floor at Moor Park and strode over to his desk. 'Sir' he said, 'you've ordered me to plan this operation and I have done it, and now I wish to inform you that I think it is a suicide operation.' He apparently then turned and walked out of Browning's office.")
Arnhemjim
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Post #7 Guest_viking_*
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Posted 14 June 2020 - 09:36 AM
General Urquhart was right when he told General "Boy Browning" that he thought Operation Market Garden was a suicide mission. Here are some staggering statistics to ponder. Urquhart brought less than 3,000 of the original 10,005 men landed on September 17th and 18th out of the Battle of Arnhem. During the battle 5,000 men including 3,000 wounded went into captivity. Of these, 550 men were listed as killed in action but the number listed as dead was far greater as 1,500 who were posted as missing did not return. The Polish Brigade suffered 500 casualties. Of Urquhart's brigadiers, Lathbury and Hackett became prisoners of war, with Hicks escaping across the lower Rhine river. The toll of battalion commanders was even more severe: Fitch, des Voeux, and Smyth were killed during combat; McCardie, Les, Frost and Hadden were taken prisoner, with only Payton-Reid and Dobie eventually reaching Nijmegen (Gregory, 1974).
Given the lack of operational alternatives, poor planning, poor operational communications, the reliance of moving XXX Corps up a single road (Hell's Highway), poor battle logistics (resupply), the failure to capture the Arnhem area (the "Red Devils" were to be relieved in two days but held on for nine days and nine nights!), and underestimating German forces and strength in the area, the Battle for Arnhem was a disaster for both the British Army and particularly for British airborne troops.
A "Bridge too Far" indeed!
Alex II
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