Comments by "Big Woody" (@bigwoody4704) on "Mistakes at Arnhem Bridge | Battle Storm 3/8 | Operation Market Garden" video.
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he's right monty doesn't show up, Monty ignored & discounted the basic logistical reality of not only one road but that the Wehrmacht were falling back upon their own supply and logistical centers. The Germans had lots of practice doing this type of operation because of all their mauled divisions coming back from the Eastern Front then going to France. This means that German Divisions could be quickly reconstituted, refitted, and reinforced with replacement up to full strength in short order.
The Allies were advancing further and away from their supply centers with long supply lines meaning they were vulnerable to German counterattack or getting bogged down against a German defense in depth with dug in troops in fortifications. The Germans were experts at taking shattered divisions and rebuilding them quickly. SHAEF was right,the Port of ANTWERP should have been opened FIRST
What would the Wehrmacht have done, assuming Arnhem was successful? The Ruhr was what 50 miles away if that! The idea you can make one long extended penetration with long extended supply lines into northern Germany, along one axis of advance is IDIOCY . The Wehrmacht still had plenty of infantry divisions, armored division with military resources and capacity to fight in the autumn of 1944. The Germans would have had the advantage of interior lines of communications, nearby supply depots, and urban centers to concentrate a counteroffensive against any single attack into northern Germany across the Rhine via Arnhem.
Does anyone think the Wehrmacht under Hitler was going to roll over and surrender in the fall of 1944? Specially after the allies demanded UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER? A successful attack across the Rhine could only be accomplished from MULTIPLE POINTS simultaneously. This action is exactly what happened in the spring of 1945.
The air transports used for the FAILED Operation Market-Garden should have been used for fuel and ammo deliveries to supplement truck transport for Bradley/Devers advances. The American 82nd and 101st airborne should have been used as regular infantry divisions to spearhead attacks in critical sectors. Most importantly, using the 82nd and 101st for American infantry attacks would have kept them far away from Montgomery which would have been better for everybody.
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