'It was a bridge too far and perhaps the whole plan was doomed to
failure from the start, but we had to try, didn't we?' 17 September
1944: 30,000 airborne soldiers prepare to drop 64 miles behind
enemy lines into Nazi-occupied Holland; tens of thousands of ground
troops race down Hell's Highway in tanks and armoured cars, trucks
and half-tracks to link up with them. The goal - to secure eight
bridges across the Rhine and end the war by Christmas. Ten days
later, over 15,000 of these soldiers have died, 6,000 have been
taken prisoner. Operation Market Garden was the daring plan to
stage a coup de main in occupied territory, gain control of those
bridges, and obtain a direct route into Hitler's Germany. But, the
operation failed and the allied forces suffered a brutal military
defeat. In the 75 years since, tactics have been analysed and blame
has been placed, but the heart of Arnhem's story lies in the
selflessness and bravery of those troops that fought, the courage
and resilience of the civilians caught up in confrontation, and the
pure determination to fight for their lives and their freedom. This
is the story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.
In Ballantyne's Arnhem, we go into battle with not only the famous
commanders in the thick of the action, but also with all those
whose fates were determined by their decisions. Based on first-hand
interviews, military records, and diaries, we witness the confusion
and mayhem of war - from the horrific and devastating to the
surreal and mundane. But most of all, we witness the self-sacrifice
and valour of the men who gave their lives to liberate strangers in
a foreign country. PRAISE FOR ARNHEM: TEN DAYS IN THE CAULDRON
'reminiscent of Stephen Ambrose at his best' - Dr Harry Bennett,
Military Historian 'a trench level perspective to those other
accounts written from more senior, and sometimes more detached,
point of view . . . A really good read.' Stuart Crawford, UK Land
Defence Journal 'a fascinating and satisfying account that
contributes to the historical record of an epic and memorable
battle . . . also a fitting tribute to the men who dropped into
Arnhem, but never left.' - Nicholas Drummond, UK Land Power 'a
breathless read' - Matt, Book Blogger
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