Watching the film `A Bridge to Far` it makes mention of dropping the paras 8 miles from the bridge.
So, what if the Para’s had been dropped directly at both ends of the bridge?
They would have taken casualties in the drop but then would have quickly secured the bridge from both ends with the element of surprise. They could have spread out and secured more territory. Had better ability to defend and would have been able to retreat back across the bridge. Also their relief could approach from either end.
Would this have been a better tactic?
By: John Green - 2nd March 2012 at 19:30
Creaking Door, is right. Additional to his argument, is that we should have learned the lessons the Germans learned from their airborne attack on Crete. Allied parachute soldiers who landed on the battlefield at Arnhem were scattered and lacking the means to deal with German armour.
Although we were warned by Dutch intelligence, we failed to heed their advice that there were a number of first rate German formations including at least one SS Panzer Division in the locality. The Wehrmacht was justly famed for its ability to swiftly respond to any threat and to mobilise for a usually efficient and immediate counter attack. And so it proved.
John Green
By: Creaking Door - 2nd March 2012 at 18:49
So, what if the Para’s had been dropped directly at both ends of the bridge?
In my opinion it wouldn’t have made any difference; the problem with operation Market Garden wasn’t the paratroop drops, it was the ludicrous idea that you could simply drive an enormous armoured column down a single highway and across the Rhine (even if you had captured all the bridges) to relieve the airborne forces…..and keep to a timetable measured in hours.
Also a lot of the airborne forces, and especially their heavier equipment, arrived on the drop-zones by glider.
By: hampden98 - 2nd March 2012 at 12:25
Sadly I don’t get home until 7pm.
So I will have to watch it tomorrow on yesterday.
By: Richard gray - 2nd March 2012 at 11:57
Hampten98
Watch. Narrow escapes of ww2 on yesterday, at 5pm today.
It might just answer your question.
By: Lincoln 7 - 2nd March 2012 at 11:49
I.I.R.C. in another film the Germans had placed troops at the ends of bridges and other places we may have targetted. They had also trained their soldiers to shoot at Paras as they came down, so dropping our troops at either end of the bridge would possibly be suicidal.
But thats just my opinion.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
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March 2, 2012 at 11:25 am