I have recently been reading about the savage fighting needed to clear the Scheldt and open Antwerp and I am coming round to the idea that concentration on Market-Garden instead of trapping the German 15th Army and opening Antwerp earlier was one of the big strategic mistakes of WWII. I can see why it happened and this is not a "blame Monty" topic to me, as Eisenhower fully concurred with the decision, but it was a big missed opportunity. What do you think?
The failure to clear the Scheldt was a major mistake, and Lt. Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks blames himself in his autobiography, "A Full Life," for not pushing 11th Armoured Division to close the gap. The port shouuld have been opened first, but Montgomery and Ike did not think the collapsing Germans had the capability of defending it, particularly as the Estuary was basically on the wrong side of the German retreat. Ike and Monty figured that the unsupplied, exhausted, retreating Germans in the Scheldt area would simply give up when they realized they were hopelessly cut off. However, the Germans found the ability to regroup (as they often did) and start digging in on the Scheldt. It was a mix of realizing its importance to the Allies and Hitler's determination to stand fast everywhere. Had Market-Garden succeeded, the British expected that the whole western half of The Netherlands would then fall in short order, being cut off from the Fatherland. But Market-Garden failed, so the Germans weren't cut off.
Hey guys i'm new to this site. i'm very intrested on the battle of the scheldt estuary. it is a dassic example of first class infantry fighting. all tough the canadians used a lot of armoured support it was the job of the infantry (2nd and 3rd can inf div, royal marine commando, army commando and the 51st lowland division) i hold great respect to them. cutting back to the case. indeed it was a missed oppurtunity for the brits they had the germans on the move and they stopped while they had a chance of a life time..... cheers buck
Buck, welcome to the boards. I advise you to get your hands on "Tug of War," by Denis Whitaker, and "The Battle for Antwerp," by J.L. Moulton, for background on the battle for the Scheldt. The Canadian Official History is good, too.
"Smashing the Atlantic Wall" by Patrick Delaforce (Cassell 2001) is also good and covers all the coatal operations, British and American. Delaforce has also written divisional histories of a number of British divisions in NW Europe and he himself served with 11th Armoured Division in the campaign.
Originally posted by angie999@Jan 3 2005, 06:09 AM "Smashing the Atlantic Wall" by Patrick Delaforce (Cassell 2001) is also good and covers all the coatal operations, British and American. Delaforce has also written divisional histories of a number of British divisions in NW Europe and he himself served with 11th Armoured Division in the campaign. [post=30397]Quoted post[/post] Just got "Smashing the Atlantic Wall" last week. And I ordered "Monty's Northern Legions" this week. So the only division he hasn't done -- or that I don't have, would be a history of the Guards Armoured Division. Great books.
On the subject of clearing the Scheldt, is there a good book on the Battle of Scheldt? It seems to be one of the more neglected episodes of the campaign in NW Europe.
I read this years ago, remember it was pretty good. Cinderella Operation : The Battle for Walcheren 1944 Rawling, Gerald Few on abebooks cheap. AbeBooks: Search Results - Cinderella Operation There's a couple of Australian sellers listed there.
I read this years ago, remember it was pretty good. Cinderella Operation : The Battle for Walcheren 1944 Rawling, Gerald Few on abebooks cheap. AbeBooks: Search Results - Cinderella Operation There's a couple of Australian sellers listed there. Very timely. Thanks, Owen.
Jeffrey Williams, a Canadian wrote a book about the Canadian First Army and Part 2 is excellent. I look forward to seeing what posts are made here. I find this part of the campaign particularly interesting. Robert Thank you Paul. You beat me in the time it took to scan and upload the same book choice.
I recently picked up a copy of "The Battle of the Scheldt" by W. Denis Whitaker & Shelagh Whitaker - Souvenir Press, published 1984 ISBN 0285626965 (first published as "Tug of War"). My great uncle who served in the Lincoln's was very interested in the book, as they were assigned to the Canadian division in that part of Belgium, and I also visit that region quite often as my wife was born there. Regards Paul
