#ww2 #operationmarketgarden #arnhem1944
World War II historians and podcasters James Holland and Al Murray are in Arnhem at the iconic “bridge too far” on the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden to introduce a new series of WW2 Walking the Ground, on-the-ground insights and incredible stories of heroism in the places where they happened. Join them as they explore historic World War Two battlegrounds in Arnhem, Nijmegen and Oosterbeek and delve into what happened on those fatal nine days in September 1944 when Field Marshal Montgomery’s bold plan to end the war by Christmas failed with such devastating consequences.
Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZ6VMrmina1IkAZ9VkXJPQ
Catch up with James and Al’s Operation Market Garden journey in weekly episodes (Wednesdays) at landing/drop zones such as Ginkel Heath, on the bridges over the Rhine that airborne troops fought to secure and hold, in the Oosterbeek “cauldron” and perimeter woods, on the XXX Corps route, the 504th PIR Waal river crossing in Nijmegen and much more.
Check out the Normandy/D-Day Series of WW2 Walking The Ground: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6c7sY9zou5XN02JZJvlmBWFSjHpckgAa
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My interest in Market Garden and Arnhem sprung from watching the film “A Bridge Too Far” with my uncle and him saying he was part of the convoy sent to evacuate the survivors from 1st Airborne after the battle. I made a Pilgrimage to both the Nijmegen and Arnhem bridges in 2017.
Went to Arnhem in June (dragging my girlfriend to the last ever Eagles concert was the sweetener) Hell of a thing to be stood on the bridge trying to imagine the carnage of Frost’s perimeter. There was a memorial on at the Oosterbeek cemetery with young Dutch and British cadets taking part. Beautiful place.
In an era of flying boats, I wonder if they could have landed gliders with sea plane floats on the river, to get right into the objective straight away
Only got one issue with these videos, they are way to short lol great job though 👍
Will be looking forward to these.
It was late August, 1976, I bought the paperback A Bridge to Far at the local hospital gift shop while visiting my grandfather in the hospital. "Soon to be a major motion picture" was featured on the front cover and that caught my attention. A great book and went to the theater in the summer of 1977 to see the movie.
James Holland – a fine military historian, I have his books on my shelves – is 'treading on egg shells' when touching on Gen James Gavin's role at Nijmegen..
Not literally the only building left. THe big church and many buildings around that bottom right side of the picture are still there. James does a lot of improv, doesnt he? 🙂
I hope you will also explain the one thing that always boggled me….. you say "the last water obstacle before the Reich"….. but it isnt. Getting over the Arnhem one takes you into an area where the river Ijssel seperates you from Germany. SO what was Montgomory thinking???
Looking forward to the new book. I’ve felt for a long time that it’s naive to think that the delay at Nijmegen was the sole reason that Market/Garden failed. It’s tempting to believe that Market/Garden almost succeeded largely because of the sort of counterfactual belief that if the Allies had crossed the Rhine they would have easily encircled the Ruhr and the war would be over. That belief is attractive but relies on far too many assumptions. It’s also very self satisfying to pinpoint one event and/or one individual for the failure of an Operation(s). The British can blame it all on Gavin and be satisfied that their hero Montgomery’s plan was genius and would have ended the war, showered him and Britain in glory except for the failings of that idiot American. Likewise the Americans can blame the failure on the miscalculation of Browning or the poor planning of Montgomery knowing Patton could have pulled it off if the situations were reversed.
My own belief is that the plan was flawed with blame passed around amongst SCHAEF with Eisenhower and Montgomery responsible in equal measure. The main short coming was Allied hubris resulting in the gross underestimation of the German’s ability and will to resist.
To be honest I don´t really understand the fuzz the Brits are making out of this battle. It was a shameful and absolutely embarrassing defeat. Elite crack British parachute units receive a proper hiding and a bloody nose from a bunch of German ragtag units that are 2nd and even 3rd class. And this is what the Market Garden / the battle of Arnhem in fact was, another proof of German military prowess.
The Germans reaction was exemplary. It was fast, it was swift, it was vigorous, it was determined. No other army in the world could have done it like that, that´s for sure and certainly not the British army as we we have seen on Crete where it failed miserably.
Instead of a quick decisive battle the Brits and other allies were locked into a ferocious fight. German units performed heroically especially considering they were ragtag units lacking proper training, proper equipment, and were inferior in number. The Germans succeeded in inflicting heaviest casualties on their opponents (higher casualties than they, the Germans, suffered) despite the fact the Brits/allies had the initiative, were vastly superior on people and materials, had complete air superiority AND used elite crack troops.
Just to add another bridge: what was the plan for the bridge across the IJssel at Westervoort?
I'm old enough to have sat transfixed as a little boy listening to many of my relatives and neighbors trading their war stories among each other. And later I found out that the mother of a high school classmate was a little girl when the war came to the streets of her hometown of Arnhem. I am so glad that you two are putting this important history on video for the current and future generations who won't be able to learn it from the people who lived it.
What a wonderful view of Arnhem Bridge very excited to watch and listen to your factual coverage especially with Al having DNA in the game in such an important battle in British history.. 😎
Can't wait, looking forward to the Sherman action!
Is it possible to have too much Arnhem…nope.
Well done gents, loving the series
Stop beating around the bush, y'all want to blame Gavin. H-Minus!
The real reason was the caution of the air commanders Brereton and Williams of the USAAF for refusing to fly double missions on day one and Hollinghurst of the RAF for not dropping closer to the Arnhem bridge. Also Brereton preventing tactical ground attack air support.
Its a shame so many ugly block buildings were build surrounding the bridge.
Is that a 6pdr? I just got a fabulous demo on a Mk IV 6pdr this weekend.
Guys guys.. that s not fair.
Blaming it only on gavin.
The whole operation was doomed.. because brereton screwed it up by allowing only 1 drop per day… Germans got reinforcements OVER RAIL from all over Germany to Arnhem unhindered by allied planes… Germans got free pass reinforcements over the pannerden ferry to the “island” to attack Nijmegen UNHINDERED……and yes Germany infantry did advance on Groesbeek from reichswald… Gavin had a LARGER space in more directions to defend than urqhart…and frost didNOTattack graebner when he first passed the Arnhem bridge towards Nijmegen on Sunday as frost was installing on the bridge… which made graebner drop ss troops in Nijmegen evening which thus denied gavin a later opportunity to seize the Nijmegen bridge with a small unit…😉.. and yeah ALL OVER LITERATURE it is clearly stated that horrocks and 30th core displayed NO SENSE OF URGENCY in their advances, moves,fights… until it was too late..