Glenn Flickinger, Colin Heaton, Greg Yoest, and Ken Kaszak mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden with a discussion about the failed attempt to hasten the end of the war by capturing key bridges in the Netherlands and advancing Allied forces into Germany.
Devised by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, Market Garden was the largest airborne operation up to that point, involving tens of thousands of paratroopers and ground forces.
It had two main components: “Market” and “Garden.” The “Market” phase involved the airborne assault by three Allied airborne divisions—the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, and the British 1st Airborne Division, along with the Polish 1st Parachute Brigade. These forces were tasked with capturing and holding a series of bridges over major rivers and canals in the Netherlands, from Eindhoven to Arnhem. The goal was to secure these bridges to enable the ground forces of the British XXX Corps, advancing from Belgium, to push through to the north and ultimately cross the Rhine River.
The “Garden” phase was the ground operation, where the British XXX Corps, supported by tanks and artillery, would drive up a narrow corridor to link up with the airborne forces and secure the captured bridges.
Operation Market Garden began on September 17, 1944. The airborne landings were initially successful, with paratroopers securing several bridges. The 101st Airborne Division captured bridges near Eindhoven, and the 82nd Airborne Division secured the vital bridge at Nijmegen after heavy fighting. However, the operation faced significant challenges almost immediately.
One of the main issues was that the operation’s timetable was extremely tight, requiring the ground forces to advance quickly along a narrow, congested road, which was vulnerable to German counterattacks. The British XXX Corps encountered strong resistance from well-prepared German forces, including elite SS Panzer divisions, which slowed their advance.
The most critical failure occurred at Arnhem, where the British 1st Airborne Division, under Major General Roy Urquhart, was dropped too far from its objective—the bridge over the Rhine. The division faced unexpectedly strong German defenses, including two SS Panzer divisions, which had been refitting in the area. Despite initial success in capturing the northern end of the Arnhem bridge, the airborne forces were soon cut off and surrounded. After several days of intense fighting, the British forces at Arnhem were overwhelmed, and the survivors were forced to withdraw across the Rhine, suffering heavy casualties.
Operation Market Garden ultimately failed to achieve its primary objectives. The Allies succeeded in capturing several bridges, but they failed to secure the crucial bridge at Arnhem, which meant that the advance into Germany was stalled. The failure of the operation left the Allied forces with a vulnerable and exposed salient in enemy territory, which the Germans quickly exploited. The operation resulted in significant Allied casualties, particularly among the airborne troops, and it delayed the final push into Germany, prolonging the war in Europe.
Despite its failure, Operation Market Garden demonstrated the courage and determination of the Allied soldiers, who fought bravely against overwhelming odds. The operation is often cited as an example of the risks of overambitious planning and the importance of logistical and intelligence preparation in military operations.
The story of Operation Market Garden was famously chronicled in the book A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan, published in 1974. Ryan conducted extensive interviews with participants on both sides of the conflict to provide a detailed and comprehensive account of the operation. The book is known for its meticulous research and its focus on the human experiences of those involved, from the highest-ranking generals to the soldiers on the ground.
In 1977, A Bridge Too Far was adapted into a Hollywood film directed by Richard Attenborough. The movie featured an all-star cast, including Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, and Robert Redford.
While A Bridge Too Far received mixed reviews, it remains one of the most well-known portrayals of World War II in popular culture. The film’s title, derived from a comment allegedly made by British Lieutenant-General Frederick “Boy” Browning, reflects the operation’s ultimate failure—suggesting that attempting to capture the Arnhem bridge was a step too far in an already risky plan.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!
