{"product_id":"a-magnificent-disaster-the-failure-of-market-garden-the-arnhem-operation-september-1944-9781935149897","title":"A Magnificent Disaster: The Failure of Market Garden  The Arnhem Operation  September 1944","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter Normandy  the most spectacular Allied offensive of World War II was Operation Market Garden  which saw three divisions of paratroopers dropped behind German lines  to be joined by massive armored columns breaking through the front. The ultimate object was to seize a crossing over the Rhine to outflank the heartland of the Third Reich and force a quick end to the war. The Operation utterly failed  of course  as the 1st British Airborne was practically wiped out  the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions became tied down in vicious combat for months  and the vaunted armored columns were foiled at every turn by improvisational German defenses. In many circles the battle has become known as Hitlers last victory. In this work  many years in the making  Professor Bennett puts forward a complete  balanced and comprehensive account of the British  American  Polish  Canadian and German actions  as well as the strategic background of the Operation in a way not yet done. He shows  for example  that rather than a bridgehead over the Rhine  Montgomerys ultimate aim was to flank the Ruhr industrial area from the north. The book also deals as never before with the key role of all three Corps of British Second Army  not just Horrocks central XXX Corps. For the first time  we learn the dramatic  untold story of how a single company of Canadian engineers achieved the evacuation of 1st Airbornes survivors back across the Rhine when all other efforts had failed. Also revealed is the scandal of how Polish General Sosabowski was humiliated  insulted and dismissed by the mendacious hostility of the British military authorities. And the book shows  too  how the Operation would have failed at the outset but for the brilliant soldiery of the two American airborne divisions who overcame a variety of odds to achieve their objectives. Respectfully nodding to A Bridge Too Far and other excellent works on Market Garden  the author has interviewed survivors  walked the ground  and performed prodigious archival research to increase our understanding of the battle. From the actions of the lowliest soldier to the highest commander  Allied and German  the Operation develops in highly readable style  with the authors expert analysis unveiling new insights at every step. www.magnificentdisaster.com\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651413106741,"sku":"ByrdShop_193514989X","price":39.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781935149897.jpg?v=1781834519","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/a-magnificent-disaster-the-failure-of-market-garden-the-arnhem-operation-september-1944-9781935149897","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}