Operation Market Garden : The Legend of the Waal Crossing

A New Interpretation Of The Wider Military Context Of The Doomed Operation Features Previously Unpublished Photographs And Documents. Using First Hand Accounts And Official Records, This History Examines The Legend Of The Waal Crossing And The Truth Behind It, Revealing How A Culture Of Elitism Mixed With National And Personal Rivalries Led To Arguably The Greatest Allied Defeat Of The War. On September 20, 1944, U.s. Paratroopers Launched A Desperate, Near Suicidal River-crossing In An Effort To Reach Their Airborne Brethren Trapped At Arnhem, Only To See Their Efforts Squandered By British Tank Crews Who, Instead Of Racing Ahead, Sat Down To Drink Tea. The Story Of The Waal Crossing--as Told By American Veterans Of The Operation--has Become A Part Of The Arnhem Legend, A Legend Of Airborne Heroism Set Against The Timidity Of The Armored Forces Sent To Relieve Them; Of American Professionalism Wasted By British Incompetence. This History Investigates What Really Happened, And Why The Operation Was Even Necessary. Over There -- From Breaking Out To Breaking Down -- From Comet To Market Harden -- Classless Killers And Yard Long Pedigrees -- Operation: 'best Possible Speed' -- Change Of Plan -- 'a Very Iffy Situation' -- 'hail Mary, Full Of Grace' -- A Legend Is Born -- Stories And Histories -- Myth Of False Gods. Tim Lynch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [183]-187) And Index. Operation 'Market Garden' was the largest airborne operation in history and its aim was to end the war in Europe by Christmas 1944. On 17 September, 20,000 men were dropped behind enemy lines to seize a number of vital Rhine bridges in the Netherlands over which the British Second Army would advance. But they had underestimated what the enemy was still capable of achieving, and their advance was blocked by two resolute German SS Panzer divisions. Reinforcement soldiers coming by land had been delayed by stiff German resistance and bad weather, and were eventually prevented from reaching Arnhem. This resulted in 6,000 British paratroopers being taken prisoner. The two US airborne divisions who also held their ground suffered 35,000 casualties. 'Market Garden' was an utter defeat for the Allies. Lloyd Clark gives a chronological overview of the operation, from its initial conception through the the end of the batte. He emphasizes both parts of the operation from the air and on... On 20 September 1944, a force of US paratroopers launched a desperate, near suicidal river crossing in an effort to reach their airborne brethren trapped at Arnhem, only to see their efforts squandered by British tank crews who, instead of racing ahead, sat down to drink tea. The story of the Waal crossing – as told by American veterans of the operation – has become a part of the Arnhem legend, a legend of airborne heroism set against the timidity of the armoured forces sent to relieve them; of American professionalism wasted by British incompetence. But what really happened? Why was the operation even necessary? Using first-hand accounts and official records, Operation Market Garden examines the legend of the Waal Crossing and the truth behind it, revealing how a culture of elitism mixed with national and personal rivalries led to arguably the greatest western Allied defeat of the war.