Operation Market Garden?
 

was it a success or a failure...ive checked many sites and i've got mixed stories...could someone clarify this because im trying to write a report on the 101st airborne

Failure.

Since you're doing the 101st, I would recommend watching Band of Brothers.

Yep.

In the summer of 1944, the Allied Armies began to encounter supply problems. There were plenty of supplies in England, but not enough port facilities to unload them in France. The allied command decided to focus their attention on the port city of Antwerp and devised a bold plan. The British Second Army would launch a ground attack on Antwerp while the newly formed 1st Allied Airborne Army would conduct an Airborne assault on the Mass, Wahl and lower Rhine rivers. On September 17, the 101st Airborne, along with the 82nd and British 1st Airborne Divisions landed in the largest Airborne assault of the war, 20,000 soldiers in all.

The initial drops were an overwhelming success, the Pathfinders had laid out the drop zones almost perfectly and the Germans were taken completely by surprise. The assault ran into trouble when 2 German Panzer Divisions launched a counter-attack at Best. Fortunately, the glider troops of the 327th and 401st GIRs had landed with over 80% of their equipment and heavy weapons. The German tanks were quickly destroyed once reinforcements could be brought forward and Best was seized. Meanwhile, the Paratroops converged on the Maas and Wahl rivers and established bridgeheads across both. Within two days, Operation MARKET-GARDEN had driven 50 miles into German territory. The 101st was relived by a British Armored Division and was ordered south to protect the southern flank from being cut off.

THe 101st managed to liberate several Dutch towns from German control while they repulsed several German counter-attacks. On several occasions the fighting was hand-to-hand in brutal street fighting. The 101st bought valuable time for the 82nd Airborne and British forces in the assault on Antwerp. By the end of November, Antwerp was in Allied hands and the first supply ship dropped anchor on November 28, 1944. The 101st was ordered into a base camp for a much-needed rest. That rest would be cut short by the German Ardennes Offensive.

so does that mean thats wrong?
cuz if it is i'll email the guy at the site to tell him...
my grandpa was in the 101st and he participated in market garden and d-day and the battle of the bulge but unfortunately i havent got a chance to talk to him yet...ill try to talk to him tommorow

[quote="CaP bUsTa":488ed]so does that mean thats wrong?
cuz if it is i'll email the guy at the site to tell him...
my grandpa was in the 101st and he participated in market garden and d-day and the battle of the bulge but unfortunately i havent got a chance to talk to him yet...ill try to talk to him tommorow[/quote:488ed]

really?

Within the operation, there were some successes, but there were more failures. Stuff like the British Airborne holding out in Arnhem for much longer then they were supposed to and some of the other airborne ops went fairly well. However, the road and bridges were not secured, and the ground forces did not complete most of their objectives. How's that for generalized, eh?

[quote="con Brio":24d59]
really?[/quote:24d59]
yes really

One of the main objectives was to push into Germany and finish the war "before Christmas."

ok...but they did manage to liberate some of holland like expected right?

Like I todl you before Mike, they didn't obtain their number one goal of like SW-14 said of finishing the war before Christmas.

Watch "A Bridge To Far" Old movie but near the end the commanders of the sperate ground units come to gether and give there feelings of the operation. Its a pretty good commintary that you good use for a guide line.

Market Garden was one of the greatest disasters of WWII, you never ever pay for the same realestate twice. It was any indecive operation lead by Montgomery who was too hestisate when it came to real fighting. If you look at the entire european campaign you will find that Montgomery was always to hesitate to ever commit for battle. GR swordfight: Just ask the thousands of Canadians that died because of his screw ups. NUFF Said!

As Misc said, watch a bridge too far. Great move. Lots of big names in it too.

Last names of authors..
Books to read:
1)Parachute Infantry-Webster
2)Road to Ahrnem-Burgett

The internet is also your friend.PM me if you need any help.