Operation Market Garden-What really went wrong?

It was meant as a bit of light hearted relief.

 

Franek -
I am surprised at your thoughts on this as a veteran you should know that when you are running short of manpower - you take risks to end the problem - and it was a big risk and too many good men died trying to end it - not a grandstand play by Montgomery but a calculated risk - approved by the Supreme Commander - to end a war which was draining the British manpower situation as it did in the first war.

One thing about Monty that you should be aware of - he always went for metal before men were sacrificed on the basis that you can make a shell and a bomb in 15 minutes but it takes 20 years to make a man.

All of his battles reflect that lesson learned in the first war and earned him untold insults as being slow - wanting more supplies than necessary - had to have superior materiel before making a move - generally by people who didn't quite understand his methods - people I suppose like yourself.
Cheers

 

I am in agreement with Owen. This Operation was a disaster waiting to happen from the beginning.. It was a grandstand play by Montgomery. A lot of brave people died because of him. His intent was to outdo Patton. He too was a Grand stander.. A lot of Americans died unnecessarily because of him.

 

Owen-
I shall have to agree with you on this as inasmuch as I was not involved in the planning nor the execution of this operation as Franek obviously was since he knows of Montgomery's intent - I shall retire from this thread.
Cheers

 

Awww! Come on Tom. We should be able to disagree with each other. I also mentioned that Patton was a fool in my estimation. They both were glory seekers. If you were satisfied with Montgomery.
Then that is your right. I am merely expressing my opinion.
There was war at the top of ETO command between the high brass. Eisenhower and Montgomery had differences.
Not to add fuel to the fire, I will leave it at that.

 

What I love about Market Garden threads is if a person who knew nothing about History read them he would conclude:

1. There was a race between the Americans and British to get to Berlin

2. It was everyone's fault

3. Although they were fighting the Germans, this was of no consequence because of 2 above

4. The British drink a lot of tea

5. The Americans have a General called Patton who, even if he never set foot near Arnhem, was absolutely crucial to the failure of the operation

6. General Montgomery liked himself A LOT.

 

What I find truly amazing is that there's so much blame thrown at each other the fact that they faced a determined enemy is almost forgotten. As far as each is concerned it was the other Ally that stopped Market Garden, not the Enemy!!!

Oh dear, Owen is off to "What if" land.......... this is not good.

 

What if..... there were no 'what if' threads? :p

 

Well Iceland is situated at a fairly strategic location in the North Atlantic so from an Italian perspective they might have done better invading there than trying to hold Libya for example. Is this what you mean??

 

PSSST OWEN.

Close Combat: WWII History: Operation Market Garden
In the middle between Arnhem and Eindhoven was the vital bridge at Nijmegen, this was left up to the American 82nd Airborne Division

 

PSSST OWEN.

Close Combat: WWII History: Operation Market Garden
In the middle between Arnhem and Eindhoven was the vital bridge at Nijmegen, this was left up to the American 82nd Airborne Division
I think Owen was referring to an American Airborne Division landing in Arnhem, Franek. No doubt Owen is aware that the US forces landed two Divisions to take various targets to pave the way for XXX Corps.

 

I certainly bow to the superior knowledge of actual combatants and veterans such as Franek and Tom Canning and far be it from me to get involved in the likes or dislikes of generals in WW2.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recollect reading that Eisenhower admitted after the war that one of his biggest mistakes was not letting Montgomery loose in North Germany, due to his predjudices against him.

Regards

Tom

 

OOOPS! My oversight. Sorry