Arnhem [Paperback]

A.D. Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fields Of Battle | Publication Date: March 28, 2002

In 1944, United States and British airborne divisions landed behind German lines to seize the canal and river crossings between Eindhoven and Arnhem. But at Arnhem, "the bridge too far," the British 1st Airborne was surrounded and subjected to a week of unbridled bombardment. Fewer than a quarter of the troops survived. A new interpretation of this most famous World War II action vividly reveals how an operation meant to shorten the war by months failed so tragically. With excellent maps and period photography.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

AD Harvey was educated at St. John's College Oxford and University (now Wolfson) College Cambridge. As well as contributing articles to RUSI Journal and Air Power History, he is author of COLLISION OF EMPIRES: BRITAIN IN THREE WORLD WARS 1793 1945 (1996) and A MUSE OF FIRE: LITERATURE, ART AND WAR (1998).

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cassell; 1st Edition edition (March 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304356999
• ISBN-13: 978-0304356997
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,059,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER BOOK ON 'ARNHEM', YES AND NOT A BAD ONE EITHER, June 5, 2008

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Arnhem (Paperback)

I see that I bought this book on October 12th, 2002, to have with several other books of the Market-Garden operation, but had never read it. With the issue of a new book coming out this month, June, 2008, I thought I would read this one prior to receiving the new one.

In February, 2000, according to Mr. A.D. Harvey the BBC placed this battle among military blunders on their TV program, GREAT MILITARY BLUNDERS. The author thinks it "would not be true to label it" so, and states that opinion on page 52 of this book. And though I have read this book with enjoyment, I cannot disagree with his point of view, for (in the author's book) as General John Hackett answered when asked when he knew Market-Garden would be a disaster, he answered, 'Before it began'. I'm afraid General Hackett was far wiser than Generals Montgomery, R. E. Urquhart, or even Eisenhower. For after reading several books on Arnhem and Market-Garden it is difficult for me to understand why this ill chosen plan was ever implemented.

But since we were itching to jump into the Ruhr, and having many false ideas based on wishful thinking that the Germans were finished, we ignored many danger signs that should have kept us from this folly. And considering the later Battle of the Bulge, it can be quickly seen we still were blindly underestimating the capabilities of the German war machine. One interesting fact that the author brings to surface here, too, is the appearance of the Germans knowing we were coming and were waiting prepared for us. He does try to debunk or defuse that thinking. However, I think the Germans did seem almost too prepared and too far knowing concerning this battle. While on page 63 the author mentions the "daily" bulletins the German Heeresgruppe B (Army Group B) issued warning of both the allied buildup of troops and a suggested route of their attack. Again, though he states that informer Christian Lindemans did not tip off the Germans, this reader has to wonder.

I do agree with the author in the 'main' that too much information of import was overlooked, and too many people who said things not wanting to be heard were either ignored or reassigned, with one officer being sent on leave due to his mental condition. And though I think the world of Ike, where was his thinking considering the German armor that was documented by photo recon, the same armor people said either did not exist or was to badly damaged to be of use. In this one thing especially, as Stepen Ambose later mentioned, Ike was very much mistaken.

To sum up, this is a very readable book and if read by someone having read other books on this battle it is a fine book. I would not, however, want this one to be the only book on this subject on my library shelf. As another reviewer states, the book has a fine array of pictures and is laid out in a very professional manner. But two other books are needed to round out this study: A BRIDGE TOO FAR by Ryan and IT NEVER SNOWS IN SEPTEMBER: THE GERMAN VIEW OF MARKET-GARDEN AND THE BATTLE OF ARNHEM, SEPTEMBER, 1944. I have both of these books and will soon add the newer volume from Casement publishing this month: MAGNIFICENT DISASTER: THE FAILURE OF THE MARKET GARDEN, THE ARNHEM OPERATION, SEPTEMBER 1944.

Semper Fi.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting addition to "Arnhem" literature, March 10, 2003

By 

Paul Clappison (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arnhem (Paperback)

This is a well-written addition to the extensive literature on the battle of Arnhem. It is part of Cassell's Fields of Battle Series (another in this series is Gettysburg by Hugh Bicheno).
The author tells the story from the point of view of those in
command - both Allied and German. He points out the things that went wrong on the Allied side and stresses how well the Germans
reacted to emergency situations. The Allied troops were well-trained elite soldiers while the Germans were, quoting from the
Foreword by Richard Holmes (the series editor), "a heterogeneous
mixture of the untrained, the convalescent and the worn out ".
There are good photographs (some very graphic) and good maps and
plans. Altogether a very good book.