A Bridge Too Far: Why Operation Market Garden Failed | Battlefield | War Stories

In September 1944, the Allies dropped over 40 thousand troops into the Nazi occupied Netherlands. Their objective was to capture strategic points including 9 bridges to create an invasion route into Germany. This hugely ambitious operation was a disaster and led to enormous Allied casualties and prisoners.

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[robertdelacruz]

This documentary failed to pin-point WHY the Operation failed. To be sure it explained the Conditions for failure, but did NO analysis of the battles themselves, nor the delays caused by and to 30th Corps. It also didn't explain the consequences of the bridges that the U.S. Airborne forces failed to capture, or were delayed in capturing. I myself was a modern Airborne Infantryman, and we were made aware of the problems -- for historical learning purposes! I would like to see a Part 2 to this documentary! Finally, notwithstanding my criticisms, it's a very Good documentary (ABSENT the idiotic YT blurring), and I recommend it!

[JohnBeebe]

My uncle said it was complex, with many moving parts that all had to work together perfectly, if one part missed the whole thing would fall apart

[marckirkbride]

I jumped on the British DZ at Arnhem in 94 and got Dutch jump wings. There is a statue of a British Paratrooper on the DZ

[TheHoldenmcgroin]

The fact variants of the MG42 are still used, is amazing. There are not many weapons that have stood the test of time like that one!

[bunkstagner]

It was a case of Monty trying to out Patton Gen Patton and failed miserably.

[ShortReviewerRetroGames]

Also the airborne part was called operation market
XX corps tank column was operation garden, technically 2 different operations combined into one but 2 seperate objectives, they should of clarified that at beginning

[christopherfriend]

First time I've ever heard the M1 Garand referred to as an "automatic rifle".

[fitycalibre]

There’s a LOT of bad information in this and some good info as well. However these will always have a soft spot for me. Brings back old memories

[billsmith-hlrk]

It was such an ambitious and complex operation, the success of which would rely on each individual sub-component successfully achieving their assigned tasks. On top of that you had other mission critical elements such as good weather for air ops, communications and coordination of the various service arms of two separate armies with their respective commanders competing with one another. And that wasn't even their biggest headache. The German capability had been underestimated from the outset and not long after Market Garden they managed to launch a major offensive in the Ardennes - they were a force to be reckoned with even at that stage of the war.
The operation was a failure as the desired outcome was not met. But, when you sum up the parts it's pretty incredible that the allies got as far as they did, it could have ended far worse.

[kamakazi]

The M1 Garand was never an automatic weapon. It is a semi automatic rifle

[michaelparks]

THE PARATROOPERS DID NOT FAIL. THEY WERE ASKED FOR 3 DAYS ...THEY HELD FOR NINE DAYS !

[Thenosferatu]

Montgomery's ego is the reason for the failures and needless death.

[blitzy]

Documentary starts at 41:00 LOL... I totally do not miss this boomer format of documentaries in the 2000s that just drag out the subject as much as possible to fit a 1 hour time mark

[TheYeti]

The Germans had something to do with things .

[mohammedsaysrashid]

A wonderful historical coverage documentary and truthful introduction documentary about Market Garden operations...in 1944 during WW2..thank you 🙏 ( war stories) channel and (🙏History Hit) network page for sharing

[maddmike]

The enemy always has a say in the matter. In combat you always need a plan A, B, C, etc.

[marceletiennou]

Il y a eu beaucoup de photos sur marketing garden

[mauryhan]

This documentary leaves out the real reason for the almost inevitable failure of this plan. Montgomery devised an overly complex plan that had too many single points of failure. There were few redundancies and fewer contingencies. True, if it had succeeded it would have been as important as Operation Overlord, but it was way too risky and driven by the ego of Montgomery coupled with Eisenhower's naive desire for a quick end to the war.

[cerbuscankerous]

This is the Bizarre thing about this operation, it may have been a bridge to far but if the goal was a short route into Germany and the map of Holland doesn't lie, then the plan was also a bridge to few? At best it would have liberated Holland.

[geoffreymarshall]

Monty was not a very good general. Good generals do not ignore information that might cause a problem to their plans. Initially Monty was supposed to take Antwerp so that all of the armies attacking Germany could be supplied. That however meant that Patton might also be given enough resources to reach and cross the Rhine. Monty ignored the information that indicated that there were German tanks in the area. He also ignored the suggestion that he should drop the Poles on to the open ground next to the bridge. He wanted the British to take the bridge and yet he did not want to split the English airborne troops so they dropped 8 miles from the target. He even tried to Blame the Poles for the failure of Market Garden when they did eventually jump onto the land near the bridge but by the time they jumped the battle was long lost.
Monty had one more chance to kill more para's. The plan for the British to cross the Rhine the following year included a water born assault across the river and a strong airborne attack. Because the Americans had already crossed the Germans retreated when the water born assault went in. They retreated through the area the paratroopers were due to land in. Monty refused to cancel what was now an useless airborne assault and the para's were cut to pieces by the retreating Germans.