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The Devil's Bridge

The German Victory at Arnhem, 1944

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The Devil's Bridge

By: Anthony Tucker-Jones, Professor Peter Caddick-Adams - introduction
Narrated by: Roger May
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Bloomsbury presents The Devil's Bridge by Anthony Tucker-Jones, read by Roger May.

This fascinating title offers a new look at Operation Market Garden and the Arnhem campaign from the perspective of the German forces who defended against the Allies.

In the late summer of 1944, SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm ‘Willi’ Bittrich found himself in the Netherlands surveying his II SS Panzer Corps, which was in a poor state having narrowly escaped the defeat in Normandy. He was completely unaware that his command lay directly in the path of a major Allied thrust: the 17 September 1944 launch of the largest airborne and glider operation in the history of warfare.

Codenamed Operation Market Garden, it was intended to outflank the German West Wall and ‘bounce’ the Rhine at Arnhem, from where the Allies could strike into the Ruhr, Nazi Germany’s industrial heartland. Such a move could have ended the war.

However, Market Garden and the battle for Arnhem were a disaster for the Allies. Put together in little over a week and lacking in flexibility, the operation became an all-or-nothing race against time. The plan to link the airborne divisions by pushing an armoured division up a sixty-five-mile corridor was optimistic at best, and the British drop zones were not only too far from Arnhem Bridge, but also directly above two recuperating SS Panzer divisions.

The Devil's Bridge explores the operation from the perspective of the Germans as renowned historian Anthony Tucker-Jones examines how they were able to mobilise so swiftly and effectively in spite of depleted troops and limited intelligence.©2020 Anthony Tucker-Jones (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Europe Military War
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Critic reviews

This is an important and timely operational analysis of the events of September 1944. It is a mark of my respect for Anthony Tucker-Jones's work that I wish I had researched and written The Devil's Bridge. Thus I am more than happy to commend his scholarship to you. (Professor Peter Caddick-Adams)
A gripping narrative from a less familiar viewpoint - that of Holland's occupiers. (Dr Graham Goodlad)
A fine sense of detail and character makes this a thrilling and unusual read. (Tim Newark)
Interestingly examining the actions of the German forces that led to Arnhem. (Robin Buckland)
This analysis provides a valuable insight into an event which is a signally important event in British military history. (Trevor James)
The story of the ill-fated but courageous Allied defeat will continue to fascinate military history buffs, but anyone wanting to understand this chapter in the war from the “other side of the hill” will find The Devil’s Bridge equally as compelling. (Becky Clark)
All stars
Most relevant
I’m a huge fan of the works of Peter Caddick -Adams and as the man himself cites in the preface- he’d wished ‘he’d written it himself.’ This is praise indeed ; as this other double - barrelled historian shows similar depths of research, knowledge and new perspectives on the German reaction to Market -Garden. If Mr Caddick - Adam’s name had been on the cover , I’d have have been convinced it was his . This is only meant as praise for Mr Tucker - Jones . Recommended!

Detailed , insightful and readable

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Very balanced and highly informative. completes the story of Market Garden in the same authoritive mode as such war historians as Max Hastings.

A must read

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A thrilling account beautifully written and read. Very informative to learn about operation I considered myself very familiar with through German eyes. The author has a wonderful way of giving all the witnesses their voices (rank and file, and not just the well known personalities like Bittrich, Model and Student) and putting the reader at the heart of the action. Very highly recommended. I do hope more of ATJ’s work will be recorded for Audible.

Thrilling and informative

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Maybe unfair to compare an Audiobook with a printed (well, Kindle) book, but I feel the German side is far better explained in Robert Kershaw's "It Never Snows in September," or even Beevor's "Arnhem: The Battle For The Bridges."
Sorry, just my view.

Disappointed

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