Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #316453 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Major-General Urquhart commanded the 1st British Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden, the greatest airbone assault of World War II, the struggle to capture Arnhem and win control of the bridge across the lower Rhine. The story of the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem involved not only an Airborne Corps of three Divisions but also the bulk of the British 2nd Army in Europe. Gen. Urquhart has told the story of those fateful nine days clearly, frankly and, despite the terrible circumstances, not without humour. It ranks as an important work, describing an operation which opened with such high hopes and left its name forever as a feat of the highest endurance and valour.

Customer Reviews

A must for an Arnhem enthusiast!
Urquharts account of the battle comes across as honest and straight forward.
He is not trying to hide the fact that he could do very little to influence the battle that was based on a plan that started to fall apart even before the first troops landed. You get a good look at the business of a division commander but also the odds and ends that make this a personal account. Fortunately I did not detect any attemps by Urquhart to "dress up" his decisions and actions leading up to and throughout the battle.
At times the "stiff upper lip" attitude is laid on a little too generously to my liking, but I imagine that was the way they delt with things back then.
Seeing things from the generals perspective, no wonder I miss a good deal of details about the actual fighting let alone the small unit tactics that I normally crave for. All this set aside, this book is surely a must read for a true Arnhem enthusiast.
I am a proud owner of this 1958 hard cover version - hopefully I get to visit the battleground in a not too distant future ...

Arnhem from the view of the commander
'Arnhem' has unforunately been overshadowed by books from professional authors such as Cornelius Ryan, however this one is from the man in charge on the ground. It is gritty, factual and makes no pretence at being a bestseller. Like Rommel's 'Attacks' or Slim's 'Defeat into Victory' it simply tells the story the way it was, modestly but powerfully. In true British tradition the actions of all the units are greatly understated, but still imbued with a feeling of the struggle that the battle must have been. A 'must-read' for those who like me want to to know as many points of view on a battle as possible, but stick to Mr Ryan if you want a good overview.

Urquharts Army
I thoroughly enjoyed general Urquharts view on the Market Garden operation,Where Corneilus Ryan takes in the full operation this book i believe this book gives us a full insight into what is no doubt a full scale military disaster in which the full and total blame lies at the feet at two people in particular. who's names are Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery and that Urquharts other superior General Browning if you want an overall view read a bridge to far if you want a British view then read this book. It is top read