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{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}__NOTOC__[[File:82nd_Grave.jpg|thumbnail|300px250px|left|82nd Airborne Division dropped near Grave]]Operation Market Garden, launched in September 1944, was an unsuccessful Allied offensive mainly, fought in the Netherlands. It was the largest airborne operation in history up to that time. The operation was a daring one , and it was the brainchild of the British General Bernard Montgomery. His This operation was even the subject of the 1977 star-studded movie <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0792839730/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0792839730&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9a43d7d4c531bad29c0c0e65b6ce2267 A Bridge Too Far]</i> directed by Richard Attenborough. He intended the airborne offensive to allow the allies to break into the German heartland and to end the war, quickly. However, this was not the case, the . The allied offensive was to prove to be a costly failure and may have even delayed their victory in Europe. This article will discuss the reasons for the failure of the Why did this operation and they will be fail? Was it Montgomery's over-optimistic planning, poor strategy, poor leadership, German resistance and , or the terrain.?

==BackgroundWhy were the Allied advances grinding to half before Market Garden? ==[[File: Montgomery E010786478-v8.jpg|thumbnail|200px250px|left|General Bernard Montgomery (1944)]]The Allies had landed in Normandy on the 6th of June 1944. After establishing several beach heads beachheads in Normandy, the Allies managed to push forward into the Normandy countryside.<ref> Harclerode, Peter , ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0297846825/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0297846825&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4d838669f1b185bdbb1d8898e27add71 Wings Of War: Airborne Warfare 1918–1945 ]'' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 2005), p. 45</ref> The Germans initially managed to slow the Allies advance, however. However, a brilliant piece of Allied strategy, resulted in the encirclement of a large part of the Nazi German army, in the Falaise Pocket. The combined Anglo-American divisions inflicted huge losses on the Germans. The German army was forced into a headlong retreat. Paris was soon retaken by the Allies.<ref>Harcerode, p. 46 </ref> The Nazi army was practically forced out of France and retreated towards Alsace-Lorraine and Belgium. It seemed to many that the Allies were on the verge of invading German and some even spoke optimistically of ending the war by Christmas. However, in truth, the Allied successes had brought its own problems. The Allies supply lines were overstretched and this was slowing down the Americans and British in particular, the shortage of oil meant that Patton’s armored divisions had to halt their advance. This was to prove crucial and it allowed the Germans to regroup in the west, when it appeared that they would disintegrate, leading to the end of the war.<ref> Burgett, Donald. The Road to Arnhem: A Screaming Eagle in Holland. Dell Publishing, NY, 2001), p. 9</ref>

==Reasons for Market Garden==[[File: Arnhem.jpg|thumbnail|200px|British prisoners taken at Arnhem]]By the Autumn of 1944, it was apparent to the Allied High Command that The combined Anglo-American divisions inflicted huge losses on the Germans had managed to retrieve the situation and would offer stiff resistance to any future offensive. In August 1944, The German army was forced into a British assault failed to take the deep water port of Antwerp and had allowed some 80,000 German troops from Scheldt Estuaryheadlong retreat. This became known as the ‘Great Mistake’ and Paris was perhaps one of soon retaken by the biggest in the entire war Allies.<ref> BurgettHarcerode, p. 3746</ref>. The Allied high command German army was reluctant practically forced out of France and retreated towards Alsace-Lorraine and Belgium. It seemed to attack many that the Germans from eastern France, as Allies were on the Nazi government had constructed a massive line verge of defensesinvading German, consisting and some even spoke optimistically of fortresses, to protect their western border, this was known as the Siegfried Line. The British and the Americans had to go through the Low Countries to invade Germany and end ending the warby Christmas.<ref> Ryan, Cornelius, A Bridge Too Far (Wordsworth Editions, London, 1999), p. 78</ref>

However, in truth, the Allied successes had brought their own problems. The Allies believed that they would need an innovative plan to break ' supply lines were overstretched, slowing down the German frontline in the Low Countries Americans and British in Alsace-Lorraineparticular. General Eisenhower and other leaders turned The shortage of oil meant that Patton’s armored divisions had to halt their attention advance. This was to prove crucial, and it allowed the Low Countries. It offered them ports which could be used Germans to re-supply regroup in the Allied divisionswest when it appeared that they would disintegrate, who still were reliant on leading to the Normandy ports for their supplies. The more forward thinking end of the allied strategists became concerned about the Rhinewar.<ref> RyanBurgett, pDonald. ''[https://www.amazon. 46<com/gp/product/0440236339/ref> This river would form a formidable natural barrier to any Allied advance but if they liberated the Low Countries it would allow them to cross the Rhine and then to cross into Northern Germany and then onto Berlin. =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0440236339&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bc9650521b3cdf40b8caa8cfdffa4396 The American and the British governments became increasingly eager Road to end the War Arnhem: A Screaming Eagle in Europe and they wanted to turn their attention to the Pacific WarHolland]''. Then the western allies believed that they were in a race to Berlin with the Soviet Army and they did not want the Red Army to capture all Germany and to turn it into a client state of Moscow(Dell Publishing, NY, 2001), p. 9</ref>

==Montgomery's Strategy==[[File:British paratroopers in Oosterbeek.jpg|thumbnail|200px|British paratroopers at Arnhem (1944)]]The allies needed Allies believed that they would need an innovative plan to break the Germans resistance Low Countries and Alsace-Lorraine's German frontline. General Eisenhower and cross the Rhine in other leaders turned their attention to the Low Countries. General Bernard MontgomeryIt offered them ports that could be used to re-supply the Allied divisions, who still were reliant on the hero Normandy ports for their supplies. The more forward-thinking of the British victory at EL Alamein, proposed a daring plan. Field Marshal Montgomery’s goal, as recounted in his memoirs was to invade Germany by securing the bridges over allied strategists became concerned about the Lower Rhine in the Netherlands.<ref> Montgomery, Bernard Law. Normandy to the Baltic (Hutchinson & Co. London, 1947)Ryan, p. 15746</ref>. This idea had several advantages such as by-passing the Siegfried Line. Montgomery wanted an airborne assault in the Netherlands river would form a formidable natural barrier to secure key bridges over any Allied advance, but if they liberated the Lower Rhine. This Low Countries, it would allow them to cross the Allies Rhine and then to enter cross into the Northern German plains, where there were no natural barriers, to their advance to Germany and then onto Berlin <ref>Burgett, p. 117</ref>.

Montgomery’s plan was initially more ambitious but he scaled back his plans in response to Eisenhower’s criticism. Montgomery proposed the following; airborne units would be dropped behind the German lines to secure the bridges over the Meuse The American and the two tributaries of the Rhine. The airborne units would hold the bridges until the British ground forces arrived. Montgomery believed that not only would this airborne operation succeed in securing bridges over governments became increasingly eager to end the Rhine, but result war in the retreat of German Divisions into Germany. The Allied High Command agreed Europe and wanted to the plan. Montgomery staked his reputation on the strategy and was backed by Churchill. The offensive was turn their attention to be called Market Garden. The 'Market' part of the operation involved the airborne aspect of the operation. <ref>Montgomery, pPacific Theater. 113</ref> The operation would involve four airborne divisions. The paratroopers would land in the area by gliders or they would parachute into the target zones. Some 50,000 troops were involved and western allies believed that they would also be supplied with some light artillery. There were American, British and Polish units involved in the massive airdrops. The ‘Garden’ part of the plan would involve several British Armored Divisions moving into the Netherlands a race to link up Berlin with the paratroopers Soviet Army, and to defend the bridges from any German counterattack. According to Montgomery, for they did not want the strategy Red Army to have worked it was dependent on two things, the quick capture of all the bridges by the Allies Germany and the ground forces linking with the paratroopers, within days.<ref>Montgomery, pturn it into a client state of Moscow. 118</ref>

==The BattleWhat was Montgomery's Strategy for Operation Market Garden? == [[File:British paratroopers in Oosterbeek.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|British paratroopers at Arnhem (1944) during Operation Market Garden began on ]]The allies needed to break the 17th of September 1944Germans' resistance and cross the Rhine in the Low Countries. It was a coordinated action by AmericanGeneral Bernard Montgomery, the hero of the British victory at El Alamein, proposed a Polish Airborne and mainly British forcesdaring plan. The operation began with heavy air raidsAs recounted in his memoirs, in order field Marshal Montgomery’s goal was to weaken any resistance. The paratroopers began landing at 13.00hrs around targets invade Germany by securing the bridges over the Lower Rhine in the Netherlands, chiefly Eindhoven, Arnhem and Nijmegen.<ref> DevlinMontgomery, Gerard M.Bernard Law. ''Paratrooper[https: The Saga Of Parachute And Glider Combat Troops During World War II//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007J1BXO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0007J1BXO&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1ed80a46adf53fbeae6a37e7dbcb15e2 Normandy to the Baltic]''(Hutchinson & Co. Robson Books, NYLondon, 19791947), p. 117157</ref>. The paratroopers had the advantage of surprise and they achieved their objectives. The Germans This idea had been taken completely several advantages such as by surprise. The initial phase of -passing the operation was a total successSiegfried Line. It had been feared that the Germans would blow up Montgomery wanted an airborne assault in the Netherlands to secure key bridges and this would mean that over the plan Lower Rhine. This would have to be aborted. The rapid capture of the bridges meant that allow the ground forces would be able Allies to reach enter into the landing zonesNorthern German plains, and support the paratrooperswhere there were no natural barriers, to their advance to Berlin.<ref>DevlinBurgett, p. 119117</ref>

The British ground forces fought their way Montgomery’s plan was initially more ambitious, but he scaled back his plans according to Eisenhower’s criticism. Montgomery proposed the following; airborne units would be dropped behind the German lines to Nijmegen secure the bridges over the Meuse and captured the city, after some fierce fightingtwo tributaries of the Rhine. One after another The airborne units would hold the bridges were captured by until the British Ground ground forcesarrived. The Montgomery believed that not only would this airborne operation appeared to be going to plan despite heavier than anticipated German resistance. The most important bridge was Arnhem, this was the most strategically significant bridge and it had to be seized by the ground forces if Market Garden was to succeed in its objectives. The British paratroopers had captured securing bridges over the bridge Rhine but they soon came under fierce attack from units result in the retreat of the crack 9th and 10th SS Panzer German Divisions<ref> Hastings, Max, Armageddon: The Battle for into Germany 1944–45 (London: Pan Books, 2004), p.123</ref>. The SS had armor and tanks and they pounded the British paratroopers mercilessly. The British paratroopers soon found themselves surrounded as the SS had encircled them. The lightly armed British soldiers fought bravely, but they could not hold out for long. An elite British unit, the Irish Guards, was fighting its way forward Allied High Command agreed to help the airborne troopsplan. However, because of the terrain they had to fight their way up to Arnhem Montgomery staked his reputation on a single road and they were constantly attacked. This road came to be known as the Highway to Hell. The tanks of the Guards could not leave the narrow road as the ground was very marshy strategy and much of it was bog land. As the Irish Guards made their way to Arnhem they were easily picked off backed by the Germans, who attacked them from the cover of woodlandChurchill. Eventually, such The offensive was the ferocity of the German resistance that the British came to a haltbe called Market Garden. The paratroopers at Arnhem were isolated and cut-off and were forced to surrender. Operation 'Market Garden had achieved all ' part of its objectives, except the most important one, operation involved the capture airborne aspect of the Bridge at Arnhemoperation.<ref>HastingsMontgomery, p. 135113</ref>

==Montgomery’s Optimistic Planning==Even before the start of the The operation, many feared that Montgomery’s plan was too optimisticwould involve four airborne divisions. The commander of paratroopers would land in the Polish airborne unit declared that area by gliders, or they would parachute into the plan was flawed and famously stated that the prime objective of the offensive the Arnhem Bridge was ‘a bridge too fartarget zones.’<ref> RyanSome 50, p 89</ref> He meant that Montgomery’s aims 000 troops were simply too ambitious involved, and that he was asking too much of his men. Montgomery they would also assumed that the paratroop unit could retain their landing zones and the bridges for a given period of timebe supplied with some light artillery. Paratroops There were only lightly armed American, British, and without support from ground troops and tanks they could hold out for longPolish units involved in the massive airdrops. The ‘Garden’ part of the plan would involve several British General, was wrong to believe that airborne troops could resist assault from ground troops supported by armor for a period of days. Crucially Montgomery, failed to understand Armored Divisions moving into the terrain that he expected his men Netherlands to fight in. The roads in link up with the Netherlands were narrow paratroopers and that defend the ground around them was unsuitable for armorbridges from any German counterattack. This was a fundamental error- According to Montgomery had simply assumed that his tanks could make their way rapidly , for the strategy to the landing zoneshave worked, it depended on two things, by using only the roads. During quick capture of all the battle bridges by the roads became death traps for many British units and they soon became clogged with burned out tanks Allies and vehicles and this critically delayed the ground forces coming to the support of linking with the paratroopers in Arnhem, in particular. Perhaps the biggest failing of the Montgomery plan was that it assumed that the Germans had been decisively beaten and that any counter-attack that they could launch in the area would be limitedwithin days.<ref> Montgomery, p. 178118</ref>

==German Counter-attackWhat Happened during Operation Market Garden? ==The Germans had been driven back some two hundred miles in a matter [[File:Sherman_tanks_of_the_Irish_Guards_Group.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Irish Guard Sherman tanks advance on September 17, 1944, during Operation Market Garden]]Operation Market Garden began on the 17th of weeksSeptember 1944. The It was a coordinated action by American, British a Polish Airborne, and the Americans dominated the skies and constantly harassed the Germansmainly British forces. The roads had become very unsafe for the Germans and they had also come under attack from the local operation began with heavy air raids to weaken any resistance movements. The Germans had lost some 90paratroopers began landing at 13.00hrs around targets in the Netherlands, chiefly Eindhoven, Arnhem,000 killed or wounded during the summer of 1944 and a further 200,000 had been taken prisoner or missing in actionNijmegen.<ref> RyanDevlin, Gerard M.. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0860510689/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0860510689&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=649bb9080e6f13f739965427274aedcb Paratrooper: The Saga Of Parachute And Glider Combat Troops During World War II]'' Robson Books, NY, 1979), p. 1, 45117</ref>. However, after The paratroopers had the failure advantage of the British army to encircle the German army in the Scheldt Estuary allowed the Germans time to regroup in the Netherlandssurprise, and they achieved their objectives. The German front Germans had begun to stabilize. They were also ably led been taken completely by the very experienced General Modelsurprise. He also received some reinforcements in the form The initial phase of the remaining units of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisionsoperation was a total success. Unfortunately, for It had been feared that the Allies, especially Germans would blow up the Britishbridges, which would mean that the SS units were positioned in Arnhemplan would have to be aborted. This was not merely bad luck, but because The rapid capture of good German intelligencethe bridges meant that the ground forces would be able to reach the landing zones and support the paratroopers.<ref>HastingsDevlin, p. 119</ref>

==Intelligence Failure==The Germans had anticipated that there would be an offensive launched with the objective of seizing Arnhem, Wesel and Nijmegen. A senior intelligence officer argued that the British and the American would use airborne troops. However, he did not predict where the assault would be. Nevertheless, German intelligence was able to provide the High Command with the information they needed to prepare for any planned Allied attack. The German General Model heeded his intelligence officers and this was to prove decisive. The British had excellent intelligence<ref> Ryan, p. 45<dh-ad/ref>. They had reliable information on the movements of the Germans, from the Dutch Resistance and they could also employ aerial reconnaissance planes to obtain photographic intelligence. One reconnaissance mission was able to provide images that seemed to show German forces in the Arnhem area. This was confirmed by information from the local resistance. This was compelling proof that the Germans had significant forces and that any air assault on the region, would be a great risk.

The intelligence officer who reported this British ground forces fought their way to Montgomery was not believedNijmegen and captured the city, after some fierce fighting. The British Ground forces captured one after another the bridges. When he tried The operation appeared to be going to persuade Montgomery that there plan despite heavier than anticipated German resistance. The most important bridge was a large build-up of German forces near Arnhem, he . This was relieved of his command and rumors spread that he the most strategically significant bridge. It had a nervous breakdown. Montgomery’s refusal to heed intelligence be seized by the ground forces if Market Garden was to result succeed in a near disaster for the its objectives. The British. It appears that paratroopers had captured the Generalbridge, refused to countenance anything that contradicted his views as he was utterly convinced of but they soon came under fierce attack from the brilliance of his plans for Market Garden crack 9th and his own infallibility10th SS Panzer Divisions.<ref> HarclerodeHastings, Max, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0330490621/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0330490621&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6206158efce5c001fc4abbbb9e1291a3 Armageddon: The Battle for Germany 1944–45]'' (London: Pan Books, 2004), p. 127123</ref> The SS had armor and tanks, and they pounded the British paratroopers mercilessly.

The British paratroopers soon found themselves surrounded as the SS had encircled them. The lightly armed British soldiers fought bravely, but they could not hold out for long. An elite British unit, the Irish Guards, was fighting its way forward to help the airborne troops. However, because of the terrain, they had to fight their way up to Arnhem on a single road, and they were constantly attacked. This road came to be known as the Highway to Hell. The Guards' tanks could not leave the narrow road as the ground was very marshy and much of it was bogland. As the Irish Guards made their way to Arnhem, they were easily picked off by the Germans, who attacked them from the woodland cover. Eventually, such was the ferocity of the German resistance that the British came to a halt. The paratroopers at Arnhem were isolated and cut-off and were forced to surrender. Operation Market Garden had achieved all of its objectives, except the most important one, the capture of the Bridge at Arnhem.<ref>Hastings, p. 135</ref> == Was Montgomery's plan for Market Garden Overly Optimistic? ==Even before the start of the operation, many feared that Montgomery’s plan was too optimistic. The Polish airborne unit commander declared that the plan was flawed and famously stated that the prime objective of the offensive the Arnhem Bridge was ‘a bridge too far.’<ref> Ryan, p 89</ref> He meant that Montgomery’s aims were simply too ambitious and that he was asking too much of his men. Montgomery also assumed that the paratroop unit could retain their landing zones and the bridges for a given period of time. Paratroops were only lightly armed, and without support from ground troops and tanks, they could not hold out for long. The British General was wrong to believe that airborne troops could resist assault from ground troops supported by armor for several days.  Crucially Montgomery failed to understand the terrain that he expected his men to fight in. The roads in the Netherlands were narrow, and that the ground around them was unsuitable for armor. This was a fundamental error- Montgomery had simply assumed that his tanks could rapidly make their way to the landing zones by using only the roads. During the battle, the roads became death traps for many British units. They soon became clogged with burned-out tanks and vehicles. This critically delayed the ground forces coming to the support of the paratroopers in Arnhem in particular. Perhaps the Montgomery plan's biggest failing was that it assumed that the Germans had been decisively beaten and that any counter-attack that they could launch in the area would be limited.<ref>Montgomery, p. 178</ref> == Were the Allies prepared for the German Counter-attack during Operation Market Garden?==[[File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-J27784,_Arnheim,_Walter_Model,_Heinz_Harmel.jpg|thumbnail|225px|General Walter Model with SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel]] The Germans had been driven back some two hundred miles in a matter of weeks. The British and the Americans dominated the skies and constantly harassed the Germans. The roads had become very unsafe for the Germans, and they had also come under attack from the local resistance movements. The Germans had lost some 90,000 killed or wounded during the summer of 1944, and a further 200,000 had been taken prisoner or missing in action.<ref> Ryan, p. 1, 45</ref>  However, after the British army failed to encircle the German army in the Scheldt Estuary, it allowed the Germans time to regroup in the Netherlands. The German front had begun to stabilize. They were also ably led by the very experienced General Walter Model. He also received some reinforcements in the remaining units of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions. Unfortunately, for the Allies, especially the British, the SS units were positioned in Arnhem. This was not merely bad luck, but due to good German intelligence.<ref>Hastings, p. 119</ref> == Why did Montegomery ignore the Dutch Resistance's Intelligence regarding German Troop Movements? ==The Germans had anticipated that there would be an offensive launched to seize Arnhem, Wesel, and Nijmegen. A senior intelligence official argued that the British and the Americans would use airborne troops. However, he did not predict where the assault would be. Nevertheless, German intelligence provided the High Command with the information they needed to prepare for any planned Allied attack. The German General Model heeded his intelligence officers, and this was to prove decisive. The British had excellent intelligence.<ref> Ryan, p. 45</ref>  They had reliable information on the Germans' movements from the Dutch Resistance, and they could also employ aerial reconnaissance planes to obtain photographic intelligence. One reconnaissance mission was able to provide images that seemed to show German forces in the Arnhem area. This was confirmed by information from the local resistance. This was compelling proof that the Germans had significant forces and that any air assault on the region would be a great risk.  The intelligence officer who reported this to Montgomery was not believed. When he tried to persuade Montgomery that there was a large build-up of German forces near Arnhem, he was relieved of his command, and rumors spread that he had a nervous breakdown. Montgomery’s refusal to heed intelligence was to result in a near disaster for the British. It appears that the General refused to countenance anything that contradicted his views as he was utterly convinced of the brilliance of his plans for Market Garden and his own infallibility.<ref> Harclerode, p. 127</ref> == What were the Consequences of the failure of Operation Market Garden? == The operation was not a total failure as it did lead led to the liberation of large areas of southern Netherlands areas and the gain gained hold of several strategic bridges. However, it failed to secure the key bridge at Arnhem, that which would have allowed the Allies to cross the Rhine. The failure at Arnhem meant that any planned invasion of Germany had to be delayed. The Germans, although they had lost ground, were we're able to establish a strong defensive line. In total, the Allies had suffered some 15,000 casualties and had many thousands more taken prisoner. The Germans had also lost equipment and vehicles that they could ill-afford to use. An unintended consequence of the offensive was a serious famine in the Netherlands. The Dutch railways stopped during the battle, to stop German reinforcements from getting to the front line. In revenge, the Germans forbade the transportation of food, by train and in the following winter , there were serious food shortages throughout the Netherland’s and thousands died of starvation or malnutrition.<ref>Ryan, p. 378</ref>. ==Conclusion= Operation Market Garden failed to meet any of its Objectives ==Operation Market Garden was a tactical defeat for the Allies, as it failed to achieve all its objectives. It failed to secure the key bridge at Arnhem and this , which meant that they were halted at the Rhine. This probably delayed the eventual Allied victory in western Europe. The operation failed because of a failure in planning, intelligence, and a lack of understanding of the terrain's nature of the terrain. There was also a mistaken belief that the Germans had been all put but defeated.  Moreover, Market Garden was moreover fundamentally flawed as it mistakenly believed that airborne forces could resist heavily armed troops for an extended period. While not exclusively to blame, many of these failures were a result of resulted from Montgomery and his over-optimistic ideas and his arrogance. The failure of Operation Market Garden was largely the result of the General Montgomery's poor leadership and tactics of General Montgomery. ====References====<references/> <div class="portal" style='float:left; width:35%'>====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=World War Two History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=7}}</div>  [[Category: Wikis]][[Category:British History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:World War Two History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:20th Century History]] [[Category:United States History]]{{Contributors}}Updated November 21, 2020