Lecture | The Battle Of Arnhem: Operation Market Garden

The 17 September this year is the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem, Operation MARKET GARDEN, Montgomery’s plan to outflank the Seigfreid Line and to attack the Rhur from the North.

Maj Gen Adrian Freer will talk about how Montgomery envisaged the task could be undertaken by the British 2nd Army with the 1st Allied Air Army under command.  Montgomery’s single thrust did, however, run contrary to Eisenhower’s broader approach, whereby equal effort was to be given to Bradley’s 12 US Army Group and Patton’s 3rd US Army towards the Saar and Frankfurt in the south.  Operation MARKET GARDEN comprised the 1st British Airborne Division, the 82nd & 101st US Airborne Divisions and, principally, 30 (UK) Corps as the ground element.  The lecture will cover the formulation of allied strategy north of the SEINE and south of the LOIRE following the breakout from Normandy towards the end of August 1944, the actions of the 1st Airborne Division at the Arnhem road bridge and at Oosterbeek, a brief summary of the 82nd & 101st US Airborne Divisions actions between Einhoven and Nijmegen, the problems which faced 2nd British Army and, principally 30 Corps, and, finally, the German perspective followed by the lecturer’s perspective on what went wrong.

6.30pm Drinks Reception (Drink included in ticket price), 7.00pm Lecture Commences

£11 non members | £9 Friends

Stay for a post lecture supper in the Castle Bistro

2 courses £25

3 courses £30