Bestselling historian Antony Beevor writes about Operation Market Garden for the first time in this detailed but readable account. In September 1944 Montgomery was keen to end the war by Christmas. The plan was to drop Allied troops into the Nazi-controlled Netherlands and secure key bridges across the Rhine along the path of advance. It was folly, and the campaign ended in defeat, with half of the 12,000 Allied troops being taken prisoner, and horrendous reprisals against the Dutch.
Antony Beevor uses many new sources from Dutch, British, American, Polish and German archives, and has vividly reconstructed this epic clash.
A generation removed from A Bridge Too Far, the author has been able to look at the mistakes, failures, and atrocities by all sides. He details how the operation came about, the problems created by the hurried planning and the impact it had on thousands of soldiers’ lives.
Arnhem is a remarkable book, with Antony Beevor in masterful control of the vast range of sources, creating a narrative that is gripping and thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
Penguin Random House, RRP $40.00