Comments by "ODDBALL SOK" (@oddballsok) on "TIKhistory"
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Finally a detailed book! Poulessen? I have to look out for it, appears to have many fine detailed reports.
Though it specifies more precise where the miscommunications and inefficient time usage was about, it shows simply more of the habitual "cock-ups" that happen in war. And those happened with all the other battalions as well.
In the end , the few hours delay and the too few men deployed didnot matter; (1) were there no SS reinforcements (few of them came via the Arnhem bridge when FROST WAS ALREADY THERE but let them pass) then the one battalion could still take the bridge.
(2) were there so many SS coming over the Nijmegen bridge north side (that they were too much to be attacked as historical on 17th and even attacked on 18th) then no one or two or three US battalions would hold out at Nijmegen ramps for two days (maybe one day, and only the city buildings NEAR the south ramp, but NOT the northh ramp at Lent).
It takes some time (couple of HOURS) to dig in, and especially set up the few 6 pdr guns...if they were able to deploy them there in short time (508th PIR had ATs?).
And even IF 50% of first drop 82nd had been moved on Nijmegen north and south ramps...WHERE would the accumulated SS troops in Lent be doing all the time on 17-18-19-20 sept ?
Let's assume for a fact that the 82nd would even hold the LENT side:
Then the SS would surely make a SCREEN around it...few STUGS would be deployed (via Pannerden or even past Frosts men as they didNOT hold the Arnhem ramp..only a few HOUSES around the ramp)..the SS artillery would hammer the unprotected 82nd until 30crps arrival.
But MOST SURELY the excess SS would be turned on Frost 's men and they would have been pushed out days EARLIER.
So that when the 30crps FINALLY arrived in Nijmegen 19th sept they would find a thick cordon in/around Lent, a strong german artillery ..and an Arnhem that would be totally CLEAR of british airborne troops.
The Polish that would land later at Driel would ve been cleared up even faster.
Not even a chance for a "bridge head" in Oosterbeek for Urquhart.
As for the 30crps shermans that are idle;
The Guards Armoured's Coldstream Guards Group still was needed as a reserve for the Airborne division.
What does this mean ? as a RESERVE ? As in drinking tea ? as in doing nothing ? as in hanging around in the back waiting for further notice and developments ? as in drinking tea?
This left but two armoured groups to go across the Waal. Even those did not make it until next day, D plus 4,
21 September, primarily because of diehard German defenders who had to be ferreted out from the superstructure and bridge underpinnings."
Superstructure of a bridge ? That is the metal works - The span ! That is maybe a few snipers or pioneers laying charges (like in the movie BtF..which witnesses told us was fake....)
Bridge underpinnings ? That is indeed the location to set charges; pioneers; infantry thus.
Why is that so hard to deal with ?
Again proof that yet ANOTHER unit is SLOW and NOT AGILE enough to fight to the MAX.
Hence it is very hypocrite to lay the blame of the WHOLE MG project on just the men of Gavin.
(I was at the "celebrations" in Arnhem and Nijmegen last week..on the matter I only got to talk to elder guides and museum historians and they all have the same answer that the project failed on many accounts, and most of it in the planning...but one could not blame a single unit or person for it..).
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