Arnhem
London, England: Pan Books Ltd., 1960. Later Edition. Presumed first printing thus. Mass market paperback. 220, [4] pages. Cover worn. Pages brown. Illustrations in Photogravure (between pages 32 and 33); The Perimeter just before we withdrew (between pages 192 and 193). Includes 13 Maps and 5 Appendixes, as well as a two page map of Arnhem. Also includes a Preface, black and white illustrations, and 5 appendices. What went wrong--and why; The Bitter, but heroic story of nine days of a man-made hell. Major-General Robert Elliott "Roy" Urquhart CB DSO (28 November 1901 – 13 December 1988) was a British Army officer who saw service during the Second World War and Malayan Emergency. He became prominent for his role as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1st Airborne Division which fought with great distinction, although suffering very severe casualties, in the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. In 1944, he was given command of the 1st Airborne Division. Although a newcomer, Urquhart commanded his division during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. The division was dropped into Arnhem, Netherlands, in an attempt to secure a crossing over the Rhine. For nine days Urquhart's division fought unsupported against armored units of II SS Panzer Corps and suffered increasingly heavy casualties during the Battle of Arnhem. On 25 September, the remnants of the division withdrew across the Rhine. The 1st Airborne Division had lost over three-quarters of its strength. Shattered as a fighting formation, the division was withdrawn to the United Kingdom and saw no further action in the war. Urquhart was awarded the Dutch Bronze Lion. This is the story of the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem during the Operation "Market Garden", which involved not only an airborne corps of three Divisions but also the bulk of the British 2nd Army in Europe. The "Market" part of the operation covered the action of the Airborne troops and "Garden", the ground operations which were designed to join up with them. Considerable attention has been focused on the action of Major-General Urquhart's Division, and sometimes it is too easily forgotten that the other two Airborne Divisions, the 82nd and the 101st which were American, also had tremendous battles in their own sectors. Major-General Urquhart commanded the 1st British Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden, the greatest airborne assault of World War II, the struggle to capture Arnhem and win control of the bridge across the lower Rhine. The story of the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem involved not only an Airborne Corps of three Divisions but also the bulk of the British 2nd Army in Europe. Gen. Urquhart has told the story of those fateful nine days clearly, frankly and, despite the terrible circumstances, not without humor. It ranks as an important work, describing an operation which opened with such high hopes and left its name forever as a feat of the highest endurance and valor. Condition: Fair.
Keywords: 1st Airborne Division, Arnhem, Operation Market Garden, Paratroops, Glider, Drop Zone, Oosterbeek, Combat Operations, Bravery, Victoria Cross
[Book #82044]
Price: $18.50