Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

76 years ago, the Allies launched the largest airborne attack ever — here's how it all went wrong.
Business Insider ^ | September 15, 2020 | Ben Brimelow

Posted on 09/17/2020 9:40:15 PM PDT by L.A.Justice

In mid-September 1944, things looked great for the Allies. With their foothold in Normandy secured after D-Day and the successful invasion of Southern France in Operation Dragoon, Allied soldiers began an almost unstoppable advance into Nazi-occupied Europe.

German forces were retreating to the safety of the Siegfried Line, a series of hardened defenses and fortifications stretching more than 390 miles along Germany's border with France and the Netherlands.

The successes had Allied planners believing there was a serious chance to end the war by Christmas, and British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery devised a plan he thought would ensure it.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: marketgarden; netherlands; ww2
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last
To: KC_Conspirator

Holland was one of the last areas occupied by the Nazis when the war ended.


41 posted on 09/18/2020 5:35:35 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

Soldier of Orange is another good one directed by Verhoeven.


42 posted on 09/18/2020 5:37:09 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: jmacusa

Oh Nick, you’re such a tool!


43 posted on 09/18/2020 5:38:44 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

“I think Montgomery was the best British general in European theater...I don’t think Harold Alexander and Claude Auchinleck were as good as Monty...”

That was the problem. Monty being the best set the bar pretty low IMVHO.
He never attacked unless he had overwhelming superiority. He would also retreat only to have to retake the same ground again later.
Unfortunately his “success” against an under supplied Afrika Corps led Monty to believe he was the second coming of William the Conqueror.


44 posted on 09/18/2020 5:41:09 AM PDT by oldvirginian (Take your mask and shove it! I am a proud WhuFlu Heretic and Trump Deplorable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

They failed to take into account that airborne operations rarely worked at that time.


45 posted on 09/18/2020 5:49:49 AM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

I saw the movie for the first time two weeks ago


46 posted on 09/18/2020 5:54:47 AM PDT by cyclotic (The most dangerous people are the ones that feel the most helpless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

My dad was there, next to the Battle of the Bulge it was his worst experience. He was not a fan of Monty and disparaged him always.


47 posted on 09/18/2020 6:17:29 AM PDT by ABN 505 (Right is right if nobody is right, and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong. ~Archbishop Fulton John)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

Etwas zum Schmunzeln.


48 posted on 09/18/2020 7:12:58 AM PDT by BDParrish (God called, He said He'd take you back!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

Monty blew Market Garden before he even got permission from Ike to launch it. There was no German front line in Holland, and Monty had enough gas to go another one hundred miles, but he stopped cold instead of fighting a battle of exploitation that potentially could have captured the Market Garden objectives two weeks before the operation was actually launched. He also could have cleared the approaches to Antwerp, which not only would have relieved the Allied supply problems, but would have kept the German Fifteenth Army trapped on the channel coast. Even if Monty had waited a day or two to allow his soldiers to rest and perform maintenance of their vehicles, he still could have continued to attack, and not allow the Germans to reestablish a front line.


49 posted on 09/18/2020 7:58:54 AM PDT by yawningotter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice
Had a neighbor that was in the 101st Airborne that was shot a few times as he parachuted into Holland and survived.

He was mentioned by name in one of Stephan Ambrose’s books. They dropped into Normandy without bullets. He landed near a group of Germans, knifed one and hid out until dawn. His sons had never heard the story when I showed them the passage. Died in his 90s a few years ago.

50 posted on 09/18/2020 8:15:30 AM PDT by zek157
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zek157

There’s an excellent Band of Brothers episode dealing with Market Garden.


51 posted on 09/18/2020 8:18:07 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: jmacusa

British participation in the battle was minimal but Montgomery made it sound as if he, Montgomery had swooped in and saved the day.

_________________________

Prime Minister Winston Churchill had to make a speech praising American troops in Battle of Bulge...He had to do something to calm down Americans...


52 posted on 09/18/2020 11:39:08 AM PDT by L.A.Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice
Yes. He called it a ‘’uniquely American victory'' My late Uncle Fred barely survived The Battle Of The Bugle. He was seriously wounded in Belgium in early January ,1945. He served with the 84th. Infantry Division.
53 posted on 09/18/2020 11:42:11 AM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: abb

Was Eisenhower at Antwerp the Biggest Allied Blunder of World War II?
___________________________________-

There was a program called MILITARY BLUNDERS on History Channel...Many years ago...


54 posted on 09/18/2020 11:42:56 AM PDT by L.A.Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
Yup. The Germans surrendered the city of Arnhem on May 8, 1945.
55 posted on 09/18/2020 11:43:22 AM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: 7thson

How about Betty Jo Bialowski!


56 posted on 09/18/2020 11:43:54 AM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

I always loved the line from “Patton”

“Hell, I know I’m a prima donna, I admit it. What I can’t stand about Monty is that he won’t admit it.”


57 posted on 09/18/2020 11:46:01 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

War is a series of calamities that result in victory.


58 posted on 09/18/2020 11:46:45 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: AppyPappy

They failed to take into account that airborne operations rarely worked at that time.

________________________________________

I think the Crete operation in 1941 was a disaster for Germans...

Normandy airborne operation in 1944...I don’t think that it was a total disaster...


59 posted on 09/18/2020 11:50:27 AM PDT by L.A.Justice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: L.A.Justice

A very good case can be made that had Antwerp become available in September, the war would have ended by Christmas, 1944.

My favorite cocktail:

https://www.mixology.recipes/cocktails/dry-martini-mongomery-s-15-1-ratio

Dry Martini (Mongomery’s 15:1 ratio)
Stir in mixing glass with ice and strain
2 oz London dry gin (6 cl)
1/8 oz dry vermouth (0.4 cl)
1 dash orange bitters
Serve in a well chilled cocktail glass (4.5 oz)
Notes: The favorite Martini of Ernest Hemingway. Named after Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (1887-1976) who is said to have prefered having 15:1 advantage for his attacks.


60 posted on 09/18/2020 12:13:39 PM PDT by abb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson