Research Catalog

Title

Operation Market Garden : the legend of the Waal Crossing / Tim Lynch.

Author

Lynch, Tim.

Publication

Stroud, Gloucestershire : Spellmount, 2011.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

191 p. : ill., maps; 25 cm.

Summary

A new interpretation of the wider military context of the doomed operation features previously unpublished photographs and documents. Using first hand accounts and official records, this history examines the legend of the Waal Crossing and the truth behind it, revealing how a culture of elitism mixed with national and personal rivalries led to arguably the greatest Allied defeat of the war. On September 20, 1944, U.S. paratroopers launched a desperate, near suicidal river-crossing in an effort to reach their airborne brethren trapped at Arnhem, only to see their efforts squandered by British tank crews who, instead of racing ahead, sat down to drink tea. The story of the Waal crossing--as told by American veterans of the operation--has become a part of the Arnhem legend, a legend of airborne heroism set against the timidity of the armored forces sent to relieve them; of American professionalism wasted by British incompetence. This history investigates what really happened, and why the operation was even necessary.

Subject

• Arnhem, Battle of, Arnhem, Netherlands, 1944
• World War, 1939-1945 > Campaigns > Germany
• World War, 1939-1945 > Campaigns > Netherlands

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-187) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Over there -- From breaking out to breaking down -- From Comet to Market Harden -- Classless killers and yard long pedigrees -- Operation: 'Best possible speed' -- Change of plan -- 'A very iffy situation' -- 'Hail Mary, full of grace' -- A legend is born -- Stories and histories -- Myth of false gods.

ISBN

• 9780752458250 (pbk.)
• 0752458256 (pbk.)

LCCN

^^2011507754

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library