This episode of "Battlefield" isn't from the first series, which ran for two seasons I think. It's from the later, less carefully joined run of three years or so.
In general, it hasn't gotten particularly good comments from viewers on Amazon.com but I didn't find it any worse than most of the companion episodes. Yes, some footage from other battles is used as filler, and, yes, some shots are repeated. (I counted the same shot of a captured .50 caliber machine gun four times.) The narration is a little repetitive too, but I didn't mind that, since operation Market Garden was complicated and can use some repetition. It was a large-scale attempt to shorten the war by a major thrust into the industrial heart of Germany instead of slogging along on a broad front through France, the low countries, and Germany.
Everyone knew it was risky but the payoff in time and lives (for both sides) would have been huge. Had it succeeded the war might have ended months sooner than it did.
Sadly, it didn't succeed. The plan to use paratroops in Holland to lay a path for British armor was suggested by an out-of-character Montgomery and agreed to by Eisenhower over the objections of some high-echelon officers.
The planning was flawed in ways clearly explained in this documentary. Anyone who wants more detail on the operation should read the book, "A Bridge Too Far." Richard Attenborough's film, based on the book, is as confusing as it is enlightening. I'm willing to give the episode bonus points for outlining an ambitious Allied plan that failed. You don't often see that kind of valor in documentaries produced by the Allied countries. For every Market Garden, there must be ten Midways and twenty Normandies. This series also directed notable attention to Singapore (we lost) and the Battle of France (we lost). Good for them, for their balance and objectivity.
In general, it hasn't gotten particularly good comments from viewers on Amazon.com but I didn't find it any worse than most of the companion episodes. Yes, some footage from other battles is used as filler, and, yes, some shots are repeated. (I counted the same shot of a captured .50 caliber machine gun four times.) The narration is a little repetitive too, but I didn't mind that, since operation Market Garden was complicated and can use some repetition. It was a large-scale attempt to shorten the war by a major thrust into the industrial heart of Germany instead of slogging along on a broad front through France, the low countries, and Germany.
Everyone knew it was risky but the payoff in time and lives (for both sides) would have been huge. Had it succeeded the war might have ended months sooner than it did.
Sadly, it didn't succeed. The plan to use paratroops in Holland to lay a path for British armor was suggested by an out-of-character Montgomery and agreed to by Eisenhower over the objections of some high-echelon officers.
The planning was flawed in ways clearly explained in this documentary. Anyone who wants more detail on the operation should read the book, "A Bridge Too Far." Richard Attenborough's film, based on the book, is as confusing as it is enlightening. I'm willing to give the episode bonus points for outlining an ambitious Allied plan that failed. You don't often see that kind of valor in documentaries produced by the Allied countries. For every Market Garden, there must be ten Midways and twenty Normandies. This series also directed notable attention to Singapore (we lost) and the Battle of France (we lost). Good for them, for their balance and objectivity.
