The History
Much has been written about Operation Market Garden and often better than we could hope to do. For those that wish to read up on the battle, we suggest that you consult your local library or one of the links below. All we will attempt here is a short list of what-ifs, that might have changed the course of the battle and where players in the game may alter the course of history.
The landing zones of the airborne troops has been criticised as being
too far from the main objectives, that is the bridges, especially in the
case of Arnhem and Nijmegen. Furthermore the lack of speed in occupying
the bridges after landing resulted in the arrival of only a weak force
at the Arnhem bridge and enormous difficulties in the capture of the Nijmegen
bridge.
Allied players might plan to have their troops dropped closer to the bridge
or to act more aggressively in capturing them, but this increases the
risks to their lightly armed troops, and the risk to the vital air transport
aircraft if those places have the expected heavy flak defences.
On the other hand the Germans might choose to attack in other places,
which now will be more weakly defended.
The attacks of British XXX Corps ground to a halt when they reached Eindhoven
although a breakthrough had been achieved. On the next day the Germans
were able to bring up fresh troops and close the gap.
In the game, players might try to break with the established tactical
doctrine and keep up the advance through the night, but run the risk of
getting lost or running into a German ambush or outdistancing their logistic
tail - already hard pressed to supply them up a single road.
Links
Museums
"Wings of
Liberation" Museum Park, Best
National War and Resistance
Museum, Overloon
National Liberation Museum
1944-1945, Groesbeek
Arnhem War Museum 40-45, Schaarsbergen
This museum has no website
Kemperbergerweg 780 - 6816 RX Arnhem (Schaarsbergen)
tel. +31 (0)26-442 09 58
Open Tuesdays through Sundays 10.00 - 17.00 hrs.
Closed on Mondays, Christmas day and New Years day
Websites on Operation Market Garden
Short
introduction on the battle
Chapter on Market
Garden from a U.S. army book on major decisions in WWII. Discusses
the reasons for and against the operation and possible alternatives.
The
Dropzone, U.S. Airborne virtual museum. Includes oral histories.
The following sites exclusively concern the battle and contain photographs
and film clips.
http://www.marketgarden.com/
http://members.lycos.nl/marketgarden44/
http://www.rememberseptember44.com/
http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/arnhem.htm
http://www.arnhemarchive.org/frames.htm
