Posted on 09/11/2014 4:14:18 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Yep, these books only cost a dollar for 160 pages of history, photos and maps. Damned good historians like Geoffrey Jukes, Earl Ziemke and John Keegan were contributing authors. I still have about two dozen in my library. I started my history library with these gems. Now you know where my allowance money went. These books and giant Sweet Tarts and Charms Big Pops. Forget girls; not on the radar screen. Me on theirs, that is.
I think the first step was to isolate the Germans in western Holland and then turn south as part 2.
There may be some artistic license in the film, but it is not 'fictional'. And the book certainly is not. You can learn a lot of history watching the film.
XXX Corps basically started on the Albert Canal in Belgium and the target was Arnhem on the far side of the Rhine.
Cornelius Ryan based his books on interviews with the principals involved, as well as the common soldier. Since he did his research in the early 1960s, most of the generals were still alive to be interviewed. That’s what made his books such popular movies.
For “The Last Battle,” he was allowed by the Soviets to interview Marshals Konev and Chuikov, as well as some regular front line soldiers. He was not granted access to Zhukov.
It will depend on "whether the Germans are as ready to defend every inch of their soil as the British and the Russians were.
I think he was referring to whether or not the Allies could maintain their lines of supply. The Red Ball Express had been in the news for a few weeks. Looking at the magnanimous task of supplying two Army Groups and the 7th Army (Patch) with the one mulberry harbor and Cherbourg harbor (both way down south) even a reporter (in those days) would know you would need a bigger harbor closer to the fighting.
As it turns out, and as has been in the news the last few days as many surmised, not only Antwerp, but the Scheldt must be taken. Monty took Antwerp, but failed to understand the importance of the Scheldt. The Schedlt will not be taken until after Market Garden.
We will see the Allies sitting at the doorstep of Germany until next year because of this ommission by Monty.
The movie might have been fictionalized (slightly), but it was not fiction. Individuals, units and events are closely based on historical fact.
:-)
"Pencil-like thrust." I think I'll leave that one alone!
It was an absurd plan. There was one two lane road for the entire advance. Much of the road was elevated above squishy polders that could not support heavy armor, so there was no room to maneuver. Any stop of the advance leaves airborne troops dangling in Arnhem. The Brits had no sense of urgency and no idea how to pull off such a daring operation. In my opinion the only commander who would have had a chance to pull this off would be Patton, who would kick butt pushing the advance 24/7 until he either got to Arnhem or it fell.
But I agree with you that Patton was too good a commander to adopt such a foolish plan.
It is also interesting to note that the British never even bothered to finish the plan and get over the neder-rijn. They abandoned the plan and turned east to the more direct route into Germany. If you think about it, isn't the more direct route, going over one big river, better than an indirect route through watery Holland? Arnhem finally fell as sort of an afterthought in the aftermath of Operation Plunder, when Monty finally got across the Rhine, but I am getting way ahead of myself.
“MESSINA is reserved for the British army...and ME.”
2.4 million pounds of good beef??
page 10-
I was thrown off by the “United Nations” communiqué
He didn’t think the airborne troops would be spread too thin?
How come? We started seeing United Nations communiques in early 1942.
I hadn’t released noticed them lol
henkster, do have a link to this map? I agree with colorado tanker, it is a helpful map.
I noticed that too. Given the shortages now occurring in Germany that must have been a big loss. I suppose they couldn't move it. From what I'm reading they have lost so much equipment many Germans are fleeing on foot or bicycle.
The map is not online, except in my photobucket account. I scanned it out of the book last night.
Another article in todays poster paper said German soldiers were told to dump the loot and keep their guns.
I wonder how Monty thought the Germans would not be able to cut the highway at several points and isolate XXX Corps as it moved north of Arnhem. Maybe Monty read too many press clippings about the Germans being finished.
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