Arnhem Black Tuesday

 Although the Second World War is one of my favourite periods, I am less interested in the later war and the North West Europe campaign in particular. So, this new book by Al Murray would not have been on my reading list had a pal at the club not lent me his copy and recommended it.

I have visited Arnhem, although my understanding of the battle is probably heavily influenced by the film  A Bridge Too Far. The recent death of the actor Gene Hackman, who played Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, was in my mind as I read the chapter of the Polish Brigade. He played the part brilliantly, accurately reflecting the Pole's scepticism of the operation. I didn't know that there was a plan to parachute the brigade into Warsaw to support the uprising. As it turns out, it probably wouldn't have made any difference, and as the Home Army had grown to 700,000 by this stage of the war, their insertion into Poland would not have been a significant reinforcement.

It was that level of detail and discovering things about the battle I didn't know that I enjoyed most about this book. It takes the reader through each stage of action, largely chronologically, while describing the actions each battalion fought in. It relies heavily on the war diaries of the units concerned, which I know from my own research can be frustrating at times. 

One of the battalions at Arnhem was the 2nd South Staffs. They were in the air landing brigade brought in on gliders. I visited their excellent regimental museum a few weeks ago, and they have a section on Arnhem. 

Sean Connery played the divisional commander Roy Urquhart in the film. I hadn't appreciated that he had no airborne experience, although, as Murray highlights, this was a very difficult battle to control from any divisional HQ. Nonetheless, he needed to communicate who should take over from him more clearly, as getting cut off in such a fast-moving battle without stable front lines in a built-up area could have been anticipated. The division was also a patched-up unit, with no time to build command cohesion. Why Lieutenant General Browning (Dirk Bogarde) had to be there is still a mystery. His tactical Headquarters used 38 gliders, which could have been better used for troops and equipment.

The lack of artillery was a significant issue with the plan, particularly as this was an essential part of British doctrine at this stage of the war. I hadn't appreciated that a battery of 17pdr ATGs was brought in on gliders. Mortar bombs and similar caused 75% of British casualties in WW2, and the Germans made full use of these skills in Arnhem. Medical provision was state of the art with no less than three field surgeries. Supply was less well organised, and the famous film scene of canisters being dropped behind enemy lines happened. There was also a canister of red berets when I suspect more ammunition would have been the troop's priority.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected. It also shows that there is something new to learn from even the best known history.