In September 1944, British and American eyes and hopes in Europe were focused on Operation Market Garden, Bernard Montgomery’s ill-fated attempt to seize a set of bridges in the occupied Netherlands. The objective was to secure a bridgehead over the River Rhine and to break out into northern Germany.
The outcome of the daring plan is well known. It was too ambitious for the airborne troops involved, especially the British at Arnhem, who came up against much tougher resistance than had been expected.
And it proved impossible for the ground troops to drive a 64-mile wedge through occupied territory to relieve the airborne. With the failure of the operation, it looked as though fighting in Holland and northern Europe had come to an end for the year.
