Men at Arnhem

by Geoffrey S. Powell

When Men at Arnhem was first published in 1976 the author modestly concealed his identity behind a pseudonym and changed the names of his comrades in arms. But the book was at once recognised as one of the finest evocations of an infantrymans war ever written and those in the know were quick to identify the author. His cover has long since been blown, in this edition Geoffrey Powell adds an introduction in which he identifies the men who fought with him in those eight terrible days at Arnhem in September, 1944. The book cannot be said to be a military history in the strictest sense, even the units involved being unidentified, but the events described are, as the author points out in his introduction, as nearly accurate as memory allowed after a lapse of over thirty years. It is unlikely every to be surpassed as the most vivid first-hand account of one of those epic disasters which we British, in our paradoxical way, seem to cherish above and beyond the most glorious victories.

Genres: War, History, World War II, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History

205 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

The author of a number of works on military history, Geoffrey Powell served in the British Army from his initial enlistment as a subaltern in 1939 until his retirement as a colonel in 1965.

Reviews

[Neil Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read and written in a way that is almost a fiction but based on really facts. Enjoyed it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir of a failed military operation during WWII called Market Garden. The author fought with the 156 Para throughout the effort to stage a coup d'main and secure a crossing of the Rhine River. Unanticipated German strength in the form of Panzer units reforming and resting in the area made success an extreme longshot. As the days pass more and more of the men are killed or wounded. The loss of key leaders is particularly dramatic. After six days a small remnant of the force escape by a river crossing in the darkness. A touching story of airborne troops carrying on in the face of incredible odds with little food and limited ammunition against German armor. The tale is a cautionary look at the critical importance of good intelligence and the dream of a big splash resulting in fame and fortune. The operation was dreamed up by Field Marshall Montgomery and was one of his worst ideas ever.

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Written at Batt level about events outside of Arnhem.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

eoff Powell was a veteran of the Battle of Arnhem and therfore his opinions must be respected somewhat. I was however disappointed to find that some of what he wrote was a copy of previous texts by the likes of Ryan or Urquhart. Furthermore he repeated popular misconceptions. The final blow was in the clumsy writing style.

I have read dozens of books on this particular conflict and this is one of my least favourite.