Reno: a river too far
This was precisely the sector chosen by Montgomery to launch new operation on 17 September, which should lead his troops to the Rhine taking Arnhem. Operation Market-Garden,provided a bout of airborne forces, the First Army, which should pave the way to the Second British Army.
The delay in clearing the estuary of the Scheldt and the opening of the port of Anvers delay the attack on Arnhem. Missed this last operation, so we decided to give priority to the first two.
The slowness with which they were eliminated in the pockets of German resistance and Breskens islands and the peninsula of Walcheren Beveland would eventually drag until early November, delaying many of the operations planned for that period.
Despite the setbacks, the Allies had taken important steps in its advance into the heart of the Reich. Important but not critical. It was not until the spring of 1945 to the disastrous effects of the errors of September would be dispelled.
Operation Market-Garden
When, in September 1944, the Allies faced with difficulties in the supply lines and the hardening of the German resistance, General Montgomery had imagined and run one of the most ingenious plans to wipe out before the new year, the German army.
After nearly two months of inactivity in the difficult terrain of Normandy, the Allies broke the German defensive line, initiating a rapid and brilliant progress that would lead the Army XXI to the Meuse-Scale Channel already on the border with Holland. The September 11, Montgomery found himself a little over 160 miles of Ruhr, one of the most important industrial regions of Germany. On the same date, the U.S. Third Army commanded by Patton, reached the Saarland, another industrial region vital to the German war effort.
Montgomery's plan, presented to Eisenhower on the 10th, was to use the service door closer - the Netherlands - with the support of airborne troops dropped behind German lines in, which would aim to achieve five strategic bridges road between Eindhoven and Arnhem.
Taken the bridges would fit, even according to the plan prepared by Montgomery, to clean the air force would advance the field where the British 11th Army, with the bridgehead at Arnhem, would have no difficulty reaching the Ruhr.
Seduced by the plan, though not entirely convinced of their effectiveness, Eisenhower gave the green light to Montgomery. This began at once preparations for the operation, christened with the code name of Market Garden, which should take place on September 17.
Arnhem Bridge: strategic objective
In England ultimavam the preparations for the largest airborne operation conducted so far, involving 5,000 aircraft and three divisions - the 1st Division British and 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions U.S. - counting on the support of the brigade of paratroopers Poles. The number of men and means obliged to extend the transport operations for three days.
