THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

This book is open for a group read and comment/discussion starting on 1st November 2012.

by Cornelius Ryan
Review:
A Bridge Too Far (1974) is Cornelius Ryan’s opus. Author of The Longest Day and The Last Battle, Ryan brings his considerable talent as a journalist, storyteller, and historian to bear in this text.

A dense read, A Bridge Too Far is some 670 page long including a generous selection of pictures, maps, index, acknowledgements, and “Soldiers and Civilians – What They Do Today” sections, and bibliography. Don’t let the length of the book scare you off, however. This is a must read for airborne history readers, with sections outlining the activities of the American 101st, 82nd, and British 1st Airborne Divisions, with emphasis on the British experience, and of course, XXX Corps, whose job it was to navigate Hell’s Highway all the way to Arnhem in short order.

What I enjoyed most about A Bridge Too Far is Ryan’s ability to narrate, especially given its length. His style reads more like a novel than a history, and that’s what makes this book work. To drive this narrative, Ryan artfully presents selections from books and articles, after-action reports and field communication logs, letters, and interviews from scores of civilians and participants, including many German leaders, whose experiences, according to the author, are told for the first time in this book.

For this reader, there is no shortage of highlights. Of particular note is the telling of the American 82nd Airborne’s crossing of the Waal river, and the last hours of Red Devils in Oosterbeek. What I like most about this book are the small touches, moments that Ryan inserts that add depth to the text. For instance, in examining tactical differences between British and Dutch military leaders (who were “excluded from the planning for Market-Garden”), Ryan writes, “the moment Dutch generals learned of the route that…XXX Corps columns proposed to take, they had anxiously tried to dissuade anyone who would listen, warning of the dangers of using exposed dike roads. ‘In our military staff colleges,’ Bernhard (Prince of the Netherlands) says, ‘we had run countless studies on the problem. We knew tanks simply could not operate along these roads without infantry’”.

Ryan adds a footnote about the result of British planning, which relied primarily on “Montgomery’s vast experience”. He writes:

“Lieutenant Rupert Mahaffey of the Irish Guards remembers that an officer of the Dutch Princess Irene Brigade came to the Guards’ mess for dinner shortly after the tanks were stopped at Elst. Looking around the table, the Dutch officer said, ‘You would have failed the examination.’ He explained that one of the problems in the Dutch Staff College examination dealt solely with the correct way to attack Arnhem from Nijmegen. There were two choices: a) attack up the main road; or b) drive it for 1-2 miles, turn left, effect a crossing of the Rhine and come around in a flanking movement. ‘Those who chose to go straight up the road failed the examination,’ the officer said. ‘Those who turned left and then moved up the river, passed’”.

It’s details like this that make A Bridge Too Far more than an ordinary battle history. XXX Corps, with the continued and relentless holding efforts of the 82nd and 101st , were stopped a few miles short of providing relief to the nearly devastated Red Devils. It is, indeed, an epic story. Get the book and read the dozens of other “moments” that Ryan presents here. You won’t be disappointed. By Bryan Hiatt (World War II Database)

Well I have started reading A Bridge Too Far. I last read this book in 1979 and like our last book Enemy at the Gates I was worried that I would not enjoy it as much as when I first read it. So far so good, I loved the first page of the book describing the German Army's retreat. Did others enjoy the opening chapter?

Hi Rick. I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised so far. I'm probably a WWII novice compared to most others on this board... I may read 2-4 WWII books a year if I'm lucky. I've had this book on my list for some time now, and I'm glad to finally get around to it. I love the way it's written so far.

(view spoiler)[
The Army's retreat sounds chaotic to say the least! I can't imagine what it was like being a Dutch civilian at that time. Mixed emotions for sure... excitement mixed with fear. What I also always try to remind myself of, is that these events did not occur all that long ago. Simply amazing.
(hide spoiler)]

Most of my knowledge about the war is about D-Day. All I know about Market Garden is from Band of Brothers, so I'm excited to learn the intricacies of the event. I'm into chapter 3. I'm glad to have learned how certain commanders ended up in their positions and locations during the campaign.

AE

Hi AE, this book is a great account of Market Garden and like you have already mentioned the author gives you great insights into the commanders on both sides and in a fairly non-biased way.

For folks reading A Bridge Too Far below are some interesting links containing, maps, images and information on Operation Market Garden that may be of interest:

http://standwheretheyfought.jimdo.com...

http://www.defendingarnhem.com/index.htm

http://www.market-garden.info/

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/...

Here is a selection of photographs covering Operation Market Garden:


The Drop



Arnhem Bridge



Bridge at Nijmegen



Grave of a British Para

Great link with information and excellent photographs with detailed captions of Operation Market Garden:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ope...

I was amazed to read this bit of information that I don’t recall reading about before, Part 1, chapter 6, page 64 (1975 Book Club Associates edition):

(view spoiler)[The British had left one entire corps west of the Seine so that its transport could service the rest of the speeding army. Montgomery’s difficulties mounted with the discovery that 1,400 British three-ton trucks were useless because of faulty pistons. (hide spoiler)] - I wonder if that factory manager got the sack or ended up in prison!

I enjoyed this quote from the book in regards to the response of the Intelligence officer, Major Brian Urquhart, to General Brownings statement: “…that the object of the airborne attack was to ‘lay a carpet of airborne troops down over which our ground forces can pass’.” From Part 2, chapter 1, page 98 (1975 Book Club Associates edition):

(view spoiler)[He considered the atmosphere at headquarters so unrealistic that, at one of the planning conferences he asked ‘whether the "carpet" was to consist of live airborne troops or dead ones’. (hide spoiler)]

Do other members keep thinking back to scenes from the movie when reading certain sections of the book? I do all the time and I'm thinking of getting the DVD out and watching the movie again while reading the book.

I've actually started watching the movie again on DVD - a classic movie eh!

I like the sense of humour found in some of the accounts taken from those involved in Operation Market Garden, like this one from General Gavin:

(view spoiler)[Remembering the 82nd Airborne’s attacks in Sicily and Italy, when his troops were scattered sometimes as far as 35 miles from their drop zone (the standard division joke was that ‘we always use blind pilots’), Gavin was determined to land his men this time almost on their targets. (hide spoiler)]

On page 128, Part 2, Chapter , of my edition of the book (1975 Book Club Associates) you will come across a footnote in regards to Lt John Gorman and how he won a Military Cross during the fighting around Caen. Below are some details on that action and a painting of the incident:

While probing forward near Cagny on the initial day of the Goodwood offensive, Lt John Gorman, a troop commander of 2nd Armoured Battalion, Irish Guards, suddenly found himself confronted by a Tiger II and three Tiger Is of the elite 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion. Supported by only one other Sherman, and aware that their 75mm guns would be ineffective against such monsters, he gave the order to his driver to ram the King tiger. Gormans tank Ballyragget succeeded in colliding with its target before the Tigers 88mm gun could be brought to bear on his Sherman, and with both tanks immobilised the crews quickly abandoned their tanks. Lt. Gorman, however, was not finished and making his way off the field, he returned shortly afterwards with a Sherman Firefly, to finish off the stricken Tiger II and one of the Tiger Is. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross, and his driver L/Cpl Baron the Military Medal.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Well I have started reading A Bridge Too Far. I last read this book in 1979 and like our last book Enemy at the Gates I was worried that I would not enjoy it as much as when I first read it. So far..."

I think I'm going to sit out this group read because I read the book just a few years ago, but I know I will enjoy reading comments from everyone else.

I think the quote Ryan begins the book with sets everything up so well: (view spoiler)[ On the narrow corridor that would carry the armored drive, there were five major bridges to take. They had to be seized intact by airborne assault. It was the fifth, the crucial bridge over the Lower Rhine at a place called Arnhem, sixty-four miles behind the German lines, that worried Lieutenant General Frederick Browning, Deputy Commander, First Allied Airborne Army. Pointing to the Arnhem bridge on the map he asked, "How long will it take the armor to reach us?" Field Marshal Montgomery replied briskly, "Two days," Still looking at the map, Browning said, "We can hold it for four." Then he added, "But, sir, I think we might be going a bridge too far." (hide spoiler)]

My thoughts when I was reading the first few chapters? Hurry up and attack, I've seen the movie and the Germans regroup!

Hi A.L., yes having seen the movie numerous times and watching it again now as I'm reading the book, you do get impatient with the armoured push saying to yourself - "hurry the Germans are regrouping and things aren't going well at Arnhem!"

Well for me it is Mr.Ryans style-of writting that i enjoy---i have read many works on the operation,some newer than others...from Mr. Kershaw's, to Mr. Middlebrook(Arnhem 1944,by the way a very good work) to Roy Urguhart's (1958-Arnhem) and many in between and i believe that for a group read Mr. Ryans book is A-OK. Seeing the movie also enhances the reading experince---i'll watch it anytime.

Totally agree with you Wade, Cornelius Ryan’s style of writing just draws you into the story. He provides the reader with interesting insights into the major players and his use of first-hand accounts, many from his own interviews, are excellent. I am really enjoying re-reading this book again.

It Never Snows in September is my other favourite book on Operation 'Market Garden' and one I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in reading further on Arnhem.

by Robert J. Kershaw

For those interested here are some details about the author:



Cornelius Ryan was born in Dublin. After finishing his education Ryan moved to London in 1940, and became a war correspondent for The Daily Telegraph in 1941.

He initially covered the air war in Europe during WW II, flew along on fourteen bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force and Ninth Air Force United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), then joined General Patton's Third Third Army and covered its actions until the end of the European war. He transferred to the Pacific theater in 1945, and then to Jerusalem in 1946.

Ryan emigrated to the United States in 1947 to work for Time magazine, where he reported on the postwar tests of atomic weapons carried out by the United States in the Pacific. This was followed by work for other magazines, including Collier's Weekly and Reader's Digest.

He married Kathryn Morgan (1925–1993), a novelist, and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1951.

On a trip to Normandy in 1949 Ryan became interested in telling a more complete story of D-Day than had been produced to date. He began compiling information and conducting over 1000 interviews as he gathered stories from both the Allies and the Germans, as well as the French civilians.

In 1956 he began to write down his World War II notes for The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day, which tells the story of the invasion of Normandy. Published in 1959 it was an instant success.

His next work was Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin (1966), about the Battle of Berlin.

This work was followed by A Bridge Too Far (1974), which tells the story of Operation Market Garden, the ill-fated assault by allied airborne forces on the Netherlands culminating in the Battle of Arnhem.

Ryan was awarded the French Legion of Honor, and an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Ohio University, where the Cornelius Ryan Collection is housed (Alden Library). He was diagnosed with cancer in 1970, and struggled to finish A Bridge Too Far during his illness. He died in Manhattan, while on tour promoting the book, A Bridge Too Far, only two months after publication.

Four years after his death, Ryan's struggle with cancer was detailed in A Private Battle written by his wife, from notes he had secretly left behind for that purpose. He is buried in the Ridgebury Cemetery in northern Ridgefield, Connecticut.

I like the humorous stories the author manages to slip into the narrative, like this account of the broadcasting van that belonged to the Commander of the Irish Guards, Joe Vandeleur:

(view spoiler)[The van had been blown to pieces and shards of the classical records – along with Vandeleur’s favourite popular tune – had showered down over the countryside. Joe was saddened by his loss; not so his Irish Guardsmen. They thought the drive to Arnhem would be arduous enough without having to listen to Joe’s loudspeaker blaring out his current theme song: ‘Praise the Lord and pass the Ammunition’. (hide spoiler)]

How are other folks going with this book, all enjoying it? Are there many members who are re-reading this book or do we have a few first-timers?

I'm a first-timer. I'm only 20 or so pages in, and I have a bunch of things I'm trying to read all at once (while working three jobs), so I'm just hoping not to lag too far behind the main group.

Paul wrote: "I'm a first-timer. I'm only 20 or so pages in, and I have a bunch of things I'm trying to read all at once (while working three jobs), so I'm just hoping not to lag too far behind the main group."

Hi Paul, don't worry about that, just enjoy the book when you can and we will look forward to hearing from you when you get a chance :)

What did others think of the stories of the paratrooper’s and gliders being hit by German defensive fire or the accounts of those gliders and transport aircraft falling to pieces in the sky due to AA fire or accidents during the first drop? I found some of the accounts terrible and saddening to read - such brave men dying horrendous deaths.

Part Three, chapter 3, page 164:

(view spoiler)[In total disregard for their own safety, troop-carrier pilots brought their planes through the flak and over the drop zones. ‘Don’t worry about me’, Second Lieutenant Herbert E. Shulman, the pilot of one burning C-47, radioed his flight commander. ‘I’m going to drop these troops right on the DZ.’ He did. Paratroopers left the plane safely. Moments later, it crashed in flames. Staff Sergeant Charles A. Mitchell watched in horror as the plane to his left streamed flame from its port engine. As the pilot held it steady on course, Mitchell saw the entire stick of paratroopers jump right through the fire. (hide spoiler)]

The author seems to know when he has given you just enough information and doesn't overload you with tragedy, he then throws in some light-hearted accounts like this one in regards to a co-pilot (Sergeant Bill Oakes) of a Horsa glider catching some British Para's brewing a cup of tea on the floor of his glider:

(view spoiler)[He handed the controls over to the pilot and hurried aft, expecting the glider's plywood floor to catch fire at any minute. ‘Or, worse still, the mortar bombs in the trailer we were carrying could explode. The heat from that little field stove was terrific.’ He was livid with anger. ‘We’re just having a little brew up,’ one of the troopers told him soothingly. Oakes hurried back to the cockpit and reported the matter to the pilot, Staff Sergeant Bert Watkins. The pilot smiled. ‘Tell ‘em not to forget us when the tea’s ready,’ he said. Oakes sank into his seat and buried his head in his hands. (hide spoiler)]

Paul wrote: "I'm a first-timer. I'm only 20 or so pages in, and I have a bunch of things I'm trying to read all at once (while working three jobs), so I'm just hoping not to lag too far behind the main group."

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "What did others think of the stories of the paratrooper’s and gliders being hit by German defensive fire or the accounts of those gliders and transport aircraft falling to pieces in the sky due to ..."

There was a time in WW2 that gliderborne troops did not receive extra pay (as did the paratroops) for their airborne duties....whoa.......when was this changed?

Hi Wade, good question! You might find this web site interesting:

http://www.faaa.me.uk/Airborne%20Hist...

"I’ll tell you straight out: If you’ve got to go into combat, don’t go by glider.
Walk, crawl, parachute, swim, float—anything. But don’t go by glider.
…Riding in one of those Waco gliders was like attending a rock concert
while locked in the bass drum.
…The field was scattered with gliders on their noses, on their sides, on
their backs. It was a scene from hell, but the 101st seemed pleased that it
was a successful glider operation.” - Walter Cronkite

I found this bit of information Wade:

In comparison to paratroopers, US glider troops were not volunteers, were not issued jump boots, and were not given parachutes. They did not receive hazardous-duty pay or wear glider wings until July 1944. - Carl Smith. Airborne – World War II Paratroopers in Combat – editor Julie Guard, Publisher: Oxford, U.K. ; New York : Osprey Pub., 2007, p. 57.

My favourite book on Market Garden is Geoffrey Powell's Men at Arnhem:


http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...

Looks like a good book Ryan, thanks for the link.

It's by no means a history of the operation, very much a first-person account. Powell commanded a rifle company in 156 Parachute Battalion.

As far as 1st Airborne Div as a whole is concerned I would recommend Arnhem: The Airborne Battle by Martin Middlebrook:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

I'm sorry to say that I purchased a hardback copy of Martin Middlebrook’s book on Arnhem when it was first published and I still haven't read it yet - something I need to rectify soon. I also have to confess that I have copies of all these books below still waiting to be read:

by John Nichol

by David Bennett

by Geoffrey Powell

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I'm sorry to say that I purchased a hardback copy of Martin Middlebrook’s book on Arnhem when it was first published and I still haven't read it yet - something I need to rectify soon. I also have ..."

Mr. Rick...put that Middlebrook work on Arnhem on your must read list...totally different style than Mr.Ryan..however ,just as good...it was the book that jump-started my interest in Market-Garden,, i Guarantee that you will find it a most factually sought and published work of the operation.

Again I am enjoying the bits of humour thrown in by the author in some of the first-hand accounts, like this one:

(view spoiler)[British Private Harry Wright jumped from an American C-47. As he fell through the air, he lost both his helmet and kitbag. He hit the ground very hard. Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Robertson came running up. Wright’s forehead was streaming blood. ‘Were you hit by flak?’ Robertson asked. Wright slowly shook his head. ‘No, sarge,’ he said. ‘It was that bloody Yank. We were going to fast when we jumped.’ Robertson applied a dressing and then, to Wright’s surprise, offered the injured man a pork pie from his haversack. ‘I nearly died right then of the shock,’ Wright recalls. ‘First Robertson was a Scot, and then, as a quartermaster, he never offered anyone anything.’ (hide spoiler)]

On the first page of chapter 1, Part Four, The Siege, there is a footnote in regards to Lieutenant John Grayburn who was posthumously awarded the Victorian Cross. For those who would like to read more on this brave officer check out the link below:

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/...

This is one of my favorite books on WW II in Europe. Sad I am traveling right now and can't pick up a library copy. Also recommend all of his book on WW II.

His other two books are excellent accounts as well, totally agree with you there Lon!

Finally finished part 1... I'm a bit behind, I know :) Ike was sure in a tough situation. Imagine having the likes of Monty and Patton both asking you for more, more, more...

(view spoiler)[
I was surprised that Eisenhower was so quick to agree to Market Garden after hearing Monty out. I understand that he only agreed to what he called an "extension" to existing operations, but it sure seemed like he was unwilling to do anything else but secure Antwerp. I was looking forward to finding out how Monty finally got Ike's approval, then Ryan made it seem like it was such an easy sell. (hide spoiler)]

AE

Hi AE, no rush, enjoy the book at your own pace. You are pretty well right about poor old Ike having to deal with Patton and Monty - no easy job at the best of times!

Well , could not get the book so well next best got the movie. Only great male missing from this one is John Wayne. But I guess after Longest Day and then Green Berets movie he was tapped out. :))

Very true Lon :) I've been watching the movie as I've been reading the book and it doesn't deviate too much, both classics eh!

I would say this is a good overall big picture book. Movie wise the mass parachute drops are amazing. Most vivid in my mind the water crossing and capturing of Nimejen (sp) bridge by Robert Redford and his band. :)

From the book it is great to read many of the other more personal accounts of which there are many excellent ones.

Perhaps someone can list a few suggestions. :) Been a few years since I did any reading on this one.

Hi Lon, one of my favourites that I read over 30 years ago was James Gavin's book; On To Berlin.


by James M. Gavin

Here is another funny account from the book that I chuckled over:

(view spoiler)[As they paused for a moment near the next enclosure, Lathbury’s Sten gun went off accidentally, barely missing the General’s right foot. As Urquhart was later to write, ‘I chided Lathbury about soldiers who could not keep their Stens under control. It was bad enough for a Division commander to be jinking about … and it would have been too ironic for words to be laid low by a bullet fired by one of my own brigadiers.’ (hide spoiler)]

Some more information on the Sten gun for those interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sten

This incident was taken from page 263 (Book Club Associates edition), Part Four, Chapter 5, covering the fighting at the bridge at the village of Best:

(view spoiler)[Elsewhere in the area, casualties were also heavy. One of the most colourful and acerbic of the 101st commanders, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Cole, who held the Congressional Medal of Honor, was killed. The Medal also would be awarded posthumously to another soldier. Private Joe E. Mann, so badly wounded as the bridge that both arms were bandaged and tied to his sides, saw a German grenade land among the men he was with. Unable to free his arms, Mann fell on the grenade, saving the others around him. (hide spoiler)]

Here is a link with details about Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Cole:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G...



Private First Class Mann's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

(view spoiler)[He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. On 18 September 1944, in the vicinity of Best, Holland, his platoon, attempting to seize the bridge across the Wilhelmina Canal, was surrounded and isolated by an enemy force greatly superior in personnel and firepower. Acting as lead scout, Pfc. Mann boldly crept to within rocket-launcher range of an enemy artillery position and, in the face of heavy enemy fire, destroyed an 88mm. gun and an ammunition dump. Completely disregarding the great danger involved, he remained in his exposed position, and, with his M-1 rifle, killed the enemy one by one until he was wounded 4 times. Taken to a covered position, he insisted on returning to a forward position to stand guard during the night. On the following morning the enemy launched a concerted attack and advanced to within a few yards of the position, throwing hand grenades as they approached. One of these landed within a few feet of Pfc. Mann. Unable to raise his arms, which were bandaged to his body, he yelled "grenade" and threw his body over the grenade, and as it exploded, died. His outstanding gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and his magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades for whom he gave his life. (hide spoiler)]

Cornelius Ryan was an old boy of my school (Synge Street CBS, Dublin) and one of my Dutch relatives lived in Oosterbeek.

It is to the great shame of the town of Arnhem that the modern bridge that crosses the river close to where the Poles paratroopers landed (not "the Bridge" - now the John Frost Bridge) has been called the Nelson Mandela Bridge, honouring a person with no connections with the town. Modern Arnhem has missed the opportunity to honour the indomitable Poles who had come so far from home, who fought so hard, and so many of whom gave their lives for the liberation of the Netherlands. I find their graves in the Ooosterbeek cemetery some of the most poignant of all. They had lost their country and their lives but they never lost Poland's Honour. The modern Netherlands could at least have named the bridge for them.

Anyone who is interested I recently read Septmeber Hope: The American Side Of A Bridge Too Far by John C. McManus. I've read several of McManus' books and they are first rate.

Hi Antoine, thanks for that information on Cornelius Ryan and I was not aware that a bridge close to the Polish landing site was named the Nelson Mandela Bridge. Not taking anything from Nelson Mandela who deserves the many honours he has received, I think you are right about the bridge being named to honour the Poles who fought and died there.