ARNHEM LANDING - NEW BOOK
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ARNHEM LANDING - NEW BOOK
Arnhem: the battle for the bridges, 1944
Antony Beevor Operation Market Garden, the plan to end the war by capturing the bridges leading to the Lower Rhine and beyond, was a bold concept. But could it ever have worked? The cost of failure was horrendous, above all for the Dutch, who risked everything to help. The latest publication from this renowned historian, Antony Beevor examines much more than a single battle and looks into the very heart of war. Soft cover, 496 pages. $34.99
Fantome
"Arnhem" has been out for a couple of months and reviewers have given very positive reviews of this description of a very British heroic failure.
I've got two of Beevor's earlier WW2 books "Stalingrad" and "Berlin" both of which are cracking reads. "Arnhem" is on my shopping list.
WT
"Arnhem" has been out for a couple of months and reviewers have given very positive reviews of this description of a very British heroic failure.
I've got two of Beevor's earlier WW2 books "Stalingrad" and "Berlin" both of which are cracking reads. "Arnhem" is on my shopping list.
WT
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Folklore is that Roy Urquhart was so incensed by the losses to the Parachute Regiment of some 8000, on returning to the UK he physically assaulted Boy Browning. who was blamed for implementing Montgomery's hare brained idea.
But since Churchill was up for anything which demonstrated British resolve to Stalin, who had accused the British of cowardice, no-one was cashiered .
But since Churchill was up for anything which demonstrated British resolve to Stalin, who had accused the British of cowardice, no-one was cashiered .
Churchill was in Canada whilst this was going on. Given the complete lack of options regarding crossing the Rhine and NOW fully aware of the G2 picture, the ground was bolleaux but when it’s all you’be got you deal with it. I still believe the rough concept was right, it was a case of poor effects’ positioning and phasing.
I am about halfway through Arnhem, having read all of Antony Beevor’s other books. I found Stalingrad and Berlin the most interesting probably as I was less familiar with these battles than the others he narrates. Arnhem has so far failed to really catch my imagination, possibly because it was still being covered when I went through training and the fact that I knew a number of people who had fought in the battle. So to me it had more immediacy than say GW1 or Corporate would have to today’s trainees. I also have the feeling that Beevor; and Max Hastings; are running out of new material. Both are at their best when writing of campaigns and battles that encompass a broad sweep of action and are essentially strategic rather than tactical events. It is difficult for me to see where either might go from here.
Strangely, Beevor’s book that appealed to me least was was his first, about the Spanish Civil War, but his style developed rapidly afterwards. If you seek something different then I recommend The War That Never Was by David Pryce-Jones. Written in the years immediately following the break up of the Soviet Union it provides a rare insight to a remarkable period in European history.
YS
Strangely, Beevor’s book that appealed to me least was was his first, about the Spanish Civil War, but his style developed rapidly afterwards. If you seek something different then I recommend The War That Never Was by David Pryce-Jones. Written in the years immediately following the break up of the Soviet Union it provides a rare insight to a remarkable period in European history.
YS
I haven't read the book, but it is well known that Major Brian Urquhart ( now Sir Brian Urquhart) tried to get Browning to amend the plan, inlight of information regarding German troop build up. Browning had him removed on medical grounds. Urquhart is still alive and nearly a centurion! I could never understand why the RAF and Typhoons in particular didn't not deal with the German armour as they had done in Normandy.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Remember Horrocks? His TV presentations were superb and as a commander trying to get through he really could narrate the story.
As long as the subject is Market Garden, here is a little brain tease for you:
What if Patton had been in charge instead of Monty?
Having read several books on the subject - I really have little interest in reading another. Further, I find it hard to believe it could be significantly better than Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" (I have an autographed first edition).
What if Patton had been in charge instead of Monty?
Having read several books on the subject - I really have little interest in reading another. Further, I find it hard to believe it could be significantly better than Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" (I have an autographed first edition).
As long as the subject is Market Garden, here is a little brain tease for you:
What if Patton had been in charge instead of Monty?
Having read several books on the subject - I really have little interest in reading another. Further, I find it hard to believe it could be significantly better than Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" (I have an autographed first edition).
What if Patton had been in charge instead of Monty?
Having read several books on the subject - I really have little interest in reading another. Further, I find it hard to believe it could be significantly better than Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" (I have an autographed first edition).
Many moons ago I studied 'Market Garden' in some depth. My main impression was that the concept ignored the basic military truism 'no plan of attack survives contact with the enemy'. It appeared to me that everything had to go right for it to have even a slim chance of success. This was doubly so given the intelligence failures. IMHO I doubt that Patton in all his fury could have got the tanks up what was effectively a single road.
Um, no mention of my own book about Arnhem!
The way the British military establishment treated Sosabowski is nothing short of a national disgrace. The way we behaved towards the commander of 1st Polish Armoured Division, was only moderately better. How can officers who have commanded major operational units be relegated to working in a toolroom store or a second rate Scottish hotel - even Wojtech the Polish Army bear, which was kept at Edinburgh Zoo for the remainder of his life, was better treated.
Old Duffer
The way the British military establishment treated Sosabowski is nothing short of a national disgrace. The way we behaved towards the commander of 1st Polish Armoured Division, was only moderately better. How can officers who have commanded major operational units be relegated to working in a toolroom store or a second rate Scottish hotel - even Wojtech the Polish Army bear, which was kept at Edinburgh Zoo for the remainder of his life, was better treated.
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He wasn't a very likeable person ................... pretty effective in the W Desert but he arrived just as the decent kit started to arrive in bulk - after that he was a NATIONAL HERO when in fact he was a bit second rate TBH. His Normandy campaign was not a great success and he was bailed out by the Yanks breakout.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I read only recently that a countervailing view was that the British and Canadian left pinned the bulk of the German Army allowing the American breakout to close the Falaise Pocket.
I read only recently that a countervailing view was that the British and Canadian left pinned the bulk of the German Army allowing the American breakout to close the Falaise Pocket.
As for Arnhem Monty, had always argued for the strong single thrust to break into Germany and the Market-Garden plan was the result. Once again a plan that was approved by Eisenhower. What is fascinating about the battle are the number of what ifs that could have made it successful. One aspect often overlooked is the American's 82nd Airborne failure to take the Nijmegen bridge when they could have instead of focusing on the Groesbeck Heights.
Anyway Anton Beevor is a very readable author of history. Another author is James Holland, who also is not a big fan of Montgomery.