[PAR35]

This is the reasoning behind my earlier assertrion that the forces for M-G would have been better served in the clearing of the Scheldt Estuary rthan in a willy nilly plan to form a single thrust into Germany.

While replying to SamWolf, it occured to me that my recollection of the German troop movements in Belgium may have faded since I last read extensively on the subject. When I first replied, I was thinking only of the tasks of clearing the mines and damage to the harbor facitlites. I had forgotten about the delays in clearing the east bank of the Schelde and the islands.

That being said, I don't think XXX Corps would have been much help, given the terrain and the confined nature of the area, but parachute drops might have relieved some of the pressure on the Canadians, but without a net lowering of the number of allied casualties.

[SAMWolf]

One of the "What if's " of history. A little more pushing along the coast and maybe Market-Garden would have been unnecessary.