Surgeon at Arms: Parachuting into Arnhem with the First Airbornes

by Lipmann Kessel

Surgeon at Arms is without doubt one of the most interesting and dramatic personal memoirs to come out of the Second World War. The author, a surgeon, was parachuted into Arnhem with the First Airborne Division. His professional skill was at once tested to the limit and the modest detachment with which he describes serious operations performed under appalling conditions would alone be enough to merit the reissue of the book. But of equal significance is the authors account of his unceasing efforts to stop the Germans evacuating the hospital, a struggle which must inevitably be seen against his Jewish background. Add to this the authors hair-raising escape and the heroism of the Dutch Resistance and you have all the ingredients of a truly remarkable book.The flame of Arnhem has lately been rekindled by Cornelius Ryans book and the thirtieth anniversary ceremonies. But Ryan was an historian; Kessel was a participant; and it is only through the eyes of the participants that the reader can honestly assess the validity of the historians viewpoint. Lipmann Kessels book has lost nothing of its freshness or its drama in the thirty years since the events it describes took place. Now republished after being unavailable for many years, it warmly deserves to find a new generation of readers.

Genres: History

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2011

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Private Hero

Lipmann Kessel was my Surgeon from when I was 3 yrs old. He equipped me with everything I needed to live a life, marrying, having children. I trusted him and I loved him even through the worst of times. He died 1986.

[Jim Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after reading John Hackett's I Was A Stranger. Both tell of the Battle of Arnhem and how these individuals were able to escape back to the British Lines with the help of the Dutch People. Hackett was a British General, wounded during the battle and treated by Kessel, who was a British Surgeon. Both were parachuted into this epic but failed battle for the Rhine Bridges during WWII, magnificently retold by Cornelius Ryan's A Bridge Too Far. These books convey the struggle and misery of the Dutch Populace during this time at they were basically being starved by the Germans and threatened with certain death for helping against the struggle. The courage and resourcefulness of these people is the main takeaway from the books.

[Diana Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me engaged all through

I really enjoyed the read from beginning to end. I felt the exhilaration and the deep disappointments that occurred. The men and women were distinct and respected. I didn’t want this book to end but grateful that for these ones it did so they could return to their post war lives.

[Halecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

a gripping, inspiring story

Wow!!
This was quite a book.
It was well written and TRUE.
The heroism
Of the Dutch Underground was inspiring and humbling.
I am so glad I read this book

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the book states: “This book is all about very ordinary people who sometimes did extraordinary things because they were fighting for something in which they believed and against something terribly evil.”

I liked that there was no dramatisation of war in this book. It was just a “plain” story of what happened to an individual, a surgeon, in the second world war.