A Bridge Too Far

by Stephen Badsey

Published 16 November 2000
'Market Garden' was one of the most audacious, and ultimately controversial, operations of the Second World War. If it had succeeded, the war could have been ended in 1944. Instead of being relieved after 48 hours as expected, British paratroopers were cut off for nine days as the 2nd Army's spearhead, XXX Corps, were slowed by German shelling. Facing two unexpected SS Panzer divisions the Allied paratroops were eventually evacuated across the Rhine after putting up an incredible fight: of the 10,000 men involved fewer than 2,000 returned.