Summary: Two-part historical television documentary, with narration, archive footage and first hand accounts by Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks, covering the events surrounding the Battle of Arnhem. It was designed to be shown on two consecutive weeks.
Description: (Reel 1) "Arnhem Part 1". The background to the battle, beginning with the Allied successes in Europe and the liberation of Brussels. The decision is made to take bridgeheads at Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem to "bounce the Rhine". The episode ends with the beginning of the operation.
(Reel 2) "Arnhem Part 2". The early stages of the operation, with the Americans securing Eindhoven and Nijmegen. However, the British and Polish airborne attack on Arnhem did not go so well, with poor communications and a German counterattack spearheaded by Field Marshal Walter Model. Losses began to mount, many British troops at Arnhem were forced to surrender, and 1st Airborne Division were forced to retreat. Later, Montgomery considered Market Garden to be 90% successful; in his assessment in this programme, Sir Brian Horrocks argues that it was only 70% successful.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 328
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1969
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Granada Television (Production company)
Butler, James (Production individual)
Guinea, Richard (Production individual)
Inglis, Brian (Production individual)
Briggs, Asa (Production individual)
Inglis, Brian (Production cast)
Horrocks, Brian Gwynne1895-09-071985-01-04Years of service: 1913–49
Horrocks served in the First World War and the Russian Civil War, was Prisoner of War twice, and competed in the pentathlon in the 1924 Paris Olympics. In the Second World War he commanded Corps in North Africa and Europe. He was seriously wounded in 1943, but returned to command a year later.
Trustee of the Imperial War Museum (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
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Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 2000 ft (ca); Running time: 54 mins