Great Blunders of WWII: A Bridge Too Far 6

No - don't make plans with politicians. Even the worst allied military plan was sufficient. Problem is, FDR was wanting one path, Ike another and Churchill yet a third. Problem is, none of it filtered down to the general staff until seconds before the whistle blew.

Remember, Warsaw was being taught an uprising lesson courtesy of the Soviets. The majority of the SS fighting the Russians to a standstill were Dutch/Belgian volunteer units. So Stalin demanded a similar "lesson" be taught to the Dutch and others. This is why Arnheim could not ever succeed.

The politicians usually have the rose colored glasses on, or worse yet their own blind ambition or what is good for them without understanding the consequences of their actions. It's our job, or for some of us was our job to educate them the best we can. Heck some of our own ranks don't understand.

faulty intelligence, or rather, correct intelligence which was ignored, was a major factor in the failure at Arnhem. even with air recon pix SHOWING german tanks in the arnhem vicinity, the intel was was disregarded.

some accounts from the Brit perspective have to be taken with a grain of salt. from their perspective, Monty would have won the war single-handedly if not for the bungling of the American generals and the treachery of politicians.

He wasn't loved by anyone except the 8th Army foot soldier. He was the perfect general because he was an order follower. Churchill's orders were to allow everyone BUT the UK to bear the brunt of liberating Europe. Monty followed those orders to a "T" with his attrition warfare. Monty hated that as other gens were getting aplomb and accolades and he was basically being typecast as a slow mover. His big gripe was that Churchill would promise him "freewheeling operations," then pull the plug at the last moment. This would be the reason the British did not budge during the Bulge. Monty was within days of being sacked for insubordination. "Why bother - you'll just pull me back the moment a German troop is seen..."

Monty's depression and apathy reared during Normandy. Bradley noticed he appeard almost drunk and distant. Browning then filled in Ike and Brad that Monty was "to attend the meetings - and nod at the appropriate moments," but once the start whistle went off, Monty was to stay back. Model was dead tired at Arnheim. Had the Irish Guards pressed in (also the Americans were a lot closer than the movie says as well) Model would have more than likely had wounded fighting to shore up the main defense. Model was a realist and knew the allies had superiority in virtually everything. Once the road battle went the way it did (Irish victory) Model was expecting to be surrendering by night fall.