Quote:
Originally Posted by Legbreaker
I agree - great movie, but the operation was a bit a gamble right from the beginning. Vital intelligence was ignored (such as the existance of two SS Divisions in the Arnhem area) and some units on both sides performed better (or worse as the case may be) than others.
It was however worth trying, but perhaps with a slightly shorter aim of say Nijmegen, and followed up later with another push. Of course that last few miles between Nijmegen and Arnhem isn't exactly what one would like to have to attack a defending enemy across....
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That's why I talked of political intrigue on the side of Monty. He had failed his offensive in Normandy and the US had to intervene to save the situation. Then he was looking for a quick victory not for the sake of the allied but for that of his own pride (IMO but there are quite some good grounds to back this). Result: failure and needless losses. One can critic Eisenhower for several things but he never made that mistake. After D-day, Monty's attitude strongly resembled that of the French Marshalls in WWI (and for me they all qualify for war criminals). Strangely, Auchinlek couldn't stand him (I agree with Auchinlek).