"Iťs hard to remember now, but Europe was like this in 1944." "The Second World War was in its fifth year and still going Hitler's way." "German troops controlled most of Europe." "D-day changed all that." "D-day:" "June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces, under their commander General Eisenhower, landed on the northern coast of France." "By July they were able to begin their own offensive." "By August Paris was liberated." "Everywhere the Germans retreated." "But with the Allied victories came problems." "Supplies still had to be driven from Normandy, over 400 miles away, and became dangerously short." "The Allied advance began to come to a halt." "Another problem facing Eisenhower was this:" "his two most famous generals, Patton who was in the south and Montgomery in the north, disliked each other intensely." "Their long-standing rivalry had never been more fierce." "There simply were not enough supplies for both armies." "Each wanted to be the one to defeat the Germans." "Each wanted to beat the other to Berlin." "In September, 1944, Montgomery devised a new and spectacular plan given the codename Market Garden." "Eisenhower, under great pressure from his superiors, finally sided with Montgomery, and Operation Market Garden became a reality." "The plan, like so many plans in so many wars before it, was meant to end the fighting by Christmas and bring the boys back home." "ARNHEM." "HOLLAND." "SEPTEMBER 1944" "What is that noise?" " Can I look out?" " No, they might shoot us." "The Germans have collapsed." "Then the war is over?" "Soon." "But what is that noise?" "Panic." "GERMAN WESTERN FRONT." "ARMY H.Q." "You may begin." "May I first be permitted to say, and I think I speak for all of us... how pleased we are, Field Marshal Von Rundstedt... that you have been reappointed commander of our forces in the west." "Speeches are for victory celebrations." "Leťs get to the point." "Air power?" "Air power, Field Marshal?" "Briefly, please." " Air power is minimal." " Ammunition?" "Also minimal." "Tanks..." "Troops..." "Replacements?" " Minimal." " Morale?" "Nonexistent." "What do you think we should do?" "End the war, you fools." " Why in the world are you laughing?" " Excuse us." "We have such confidence in you." "Everyone knows you have never lost a battle." "I'm still young." "Give me time." "The first thing we must do is to turn this rabble into something like an army." "Anything at all on when they plan to invade Holland?" "They seem to have paused in Belgium." "Most likely supply problems." "Otherwise we can't imagine why." "I think iťs because we're retreating faster than they can advance." "How many vehicles in the past hour?" "Fifty-four." "And for the same hour yesterday?" "Ninety-eight." "Last week your mother and I could have captured Holland alone." "Already the panic has stopped." "It isn't over yet and those idiots don't realise it." " War takes time." " Listen to the expert." "I was nine when they got here." "Next month I'll be 14." "I ought to know something." "Father, the Allies will come?" "But when?" "GENERAL BROWNING'S H. Q..." "ENGLAND" "Actually, the plan's really very simple." "We're going to fly 35,000 men 300 miles and drop them behind enemy lines." "Iťll be the largest airborne operation ever mounted." "Quite frankly, this kind of thing's never been attempted before." " Where's this all gonna take place?" " Holland." " And when?" " I'm coming to that now." "Right." "Ground forces: 30 corps commanded by General Horrocks." "20,000 vehicles." "And this, as you know, is the German front line." "We're going to lay a carpet, as it were, of airborne troops, over which 30th corps can pass." "We shall seize the bridges - iťs all a question of bridges - with thunderclap surprise, and hold them until they can be secured." "Now, first of all, General Maxwell Taylor:" "Eindhoven." "You take and hold the bridges there with 101 st." "General Gavin, with your 82nd, you get Nijmegen." "You take and hold the bridges." "And, Roy, you get the prize:" "Arnhem." "Arnhem Bridge." " And you hold it." " For how long?" "Well, Monty assures me that 30 corps will do the 63 miles in two days." " 63 miles in two days." " They'll handle that." "I'm sorry." "General Sosabowski." "You go with your Polish brigade with Roy Urquhart." "I'm so sorry." "Roy, when you've secured your bridge and 30th corps have got across it, we can turn east right into the industrial heart of Germany-the Ruhr." "Once we control their factories, there's not much they can do." "That is the plan." " And we go next Sunday." " Seven days?" "Why not?" "The sooner we go, the better." "We've got them on the run." "Is something troubling you, General Sosabowski?" " I've said nothing." " Precisely." "Your silences are thunderous." "General Browning, I am a Pole, considered by some to be smart." "If that is so, it makes me a member of a true minority group." "Minority groups are more comfortable in silence." "Really?" "I should have thought the opposite was true." "But you do disapprove." "I am thrilled that your great field marshal has devised such a plan." "I promise you I will be properly ecstatic if it works." " When it works." " Of course." "When it works." "Thank you." "Well, now leťs get down to the details." "First thing, we shall have to have a..." "From which direction will their attack come, and who will command?" "Montgomery or Patton?" " Model, what do you think?" " Patton." "He is their best." "Patton will lead the assault." "I would prefer Montgomery but even Eisenhower isn't that stupid." "Bittrich's panzer troops need some rest if they're to stop Patton." "We should pull them back somewhere safe." "Safe, quiet, out of the way." "But where?" "Arnhem?" "Arnhem." "U.S. 82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION H. Q..." "ENGLAND" " Why the emergency meeting?" " Keeping me abreast of the little changes." " How big are the little changes?" " With British understatement: gigantic." "They can't get us all in." "Too many men, too much equipment, not enough planes." "Iťs going to take three days to get the men into Arnhem" " Poles and the British." " How about us?" " Except for parachuting in daylight," " We have nothing to worry about." " Daylight?" " Has it ever been tried before?" " Not in a major drop." " You think there's a reason for that?" " Leťs hope not." " What do you think?" " Iťs a no-moon period anyway." "We have to go in daylight." "Just so they get us over the target area." " Half a mile away." "I'll settle for that." " I don't wanna hear anything else." " Is there anything else?" " Well, you're my Dutch advisor, Harry." "I forgot to tell you something?" "Only that the Germans first tried to take Nijmegen Bridge themselves in 1940, and got slaughtered." "Go back!" "Go back!" "Do as I say!" "But my friend lives down the road." "Iťs my birthday and she has a present for me." "Please let me through." "All right." "Be quick." "Are you sure about the colours?" "I'm sure, Father." "Believe me." "Model?" "A field marshal in Arnhem?" "Why?" "The British will have an explanation." "Did you pass on the message about the tanks?" "Of course." "But Model is something more important." "You're a good boy and a wonderful spy." "Now go and help your mother with supper." "Sir!" " Yes, Fuller." " We've got some information on tanks." "Dutch underground reports from Arnhem." " Established their strength?" " No, but..." " Have they been identified?" " Not by us, sir." " So iťs the same rumours as before." " I believe these rumours, sir." "Why?" "The general consensus is that our opposition will consist entirely of Hitler youths or old men." "I don't really know why, sir." "Perhaps because no one in intelligence does." "I just want to be sure our airborne carpet consists of live troops, not dead ones." "I know everybody thinks I'm overanxious, sir." "But I would like to order another low-level reconnaissance." "If thaťs all right with you, sir." "Very well." "All right, Wilson." "Very well." " Fuller, Fuller." " Yeah." "Sir." "I wouldn't be too concerned about what people think of you." "You happen to be somewhat brighter than most of us." "It tends to make us nervous." "We'll do our utmost to meet your tactical requirements." "But, please, keep in mind the one factor which is crippling all our plans." "It may seem improbable to you, but we are desperately short of transport aircraft." " I am aware of that." " I'm surprised that nobody told Monty when he dreamed up this operation." "I need drop zones as close as possible to the bridge." "This area is no use at all." "can't have my chaps landing on top of chimneys." "Now, this looks inviting here." "Whaťs the terrain like?" "Sorry, sir." "Our reports indicate that this terrain is too soft for glider landings." "The nose digs in on touchdown, the thing goes arse over tip..." "Total write-off." "All right." "What about there?" "No, afraid not, sir." "After the drop when we bank for our return, we run into a whole lot of flak and rubbish from this Jerry airfield at Deelen." "Presumably you're intending to let us land somewhere." "Ooh, yes." "Hopefully, sir." "But, as I was saying, we cannot afford to lose a single aircraft." "That is the problem." "My problem is I don't just need drop zones." "I need drop zones I can hold and defend." "The rest of my division arrives with a second drop and General Sosabowski's with a third." "I understand, sir." "But we really think we've found the right place." "Iťs large enough for your needs, iťs flat and firm, and also easily defended." " Where the hell is it?" " Iťs not actually on this photograph." "It should be... excuse me, sir." "It would be about here, I think." " That could be ten miles from the bridge." " Just under eight, actually." "If you'd like to have a look at this." "You see, the terrain is easy to traverse." "All our information substantiates that." "Yes, sir?" "Just making sure whose side you're on." "Now, a drop zone eight miles from Arnhem Bridge" " Might be thought to present problems." " My God." "He can't mean it." "I'm afraid he does." "He must know what he's doing." "Thaťs more than I know." "Why should he have the corner on the market?" "...cannot under any stretch of the imagination be considered ideal." "The gliders will bring in a reconnaissance squadron of Jeeps fitted with twin Vickers machine guns." "Now, the instant we land, they will race ahead to the bridge and hold it" " Until the other battalions arrive on foot." " They'll be able to secure both ends?" " Most certainly." " Good." "You all know where I shall be." "My headquarters will be in the centre with 82nd." "Remember we're all totally interlocked." "This is a bottom-to-top operation." "101 st pass 30 corps on to 82nd." "82nd pass them on to British Airborne." "If any one group fails, iťs total failure for us all." "All we need now are three days of clear skies." "Thank you, gentlemen, very much." "Only the weather can stop us now." "Weather!" "Chrystus!" "General Browning, what of the Germans?" "Don't you think that since we know that Arnhem is so crucial to their safety, they might know that too?" "The few troops in the area are second class." "They're not front-line calibre." "Not at all." "Do you understand?" "Have more faith in Montgomery's intelligence reports." "He's done pretty well for us in the last few years." "I will tell you the extent of my faith." "I'm thinking of asking for a letter stating that I was forced to act on your orders, in case my men are massacred." "I see." "Yes, I do see." "Do you wish such a letter?" "No." " No, of course not." " In the case of massacre, what difference would it make?" " You mean you don't believe me, sir?" " Clearly not." "All right, boys." "NAAFI's up." "Take your break." " God Almighty!" " Sorry about that, sir." "But what, then?" "The radios aren't strong enough to carry from the drop zone to Arnhem Bridge." " You don't have any cigarettes, do you?" " No." "They're perfectly OK." "I've used them God knows how many times." "You've told me that God knows how many times." "Well, I didn't have any problems with them in the desert." "Yes, I know." "You see, colonel, what bothers me, what has me more than a bit disturbed, is that Holland being half underwater is soggier than most deserts you find." "Tends to have a lot more trees." " Any biscuits?" " Your biscuits are in your tin, sir." " Tell the general, if you're so certain." " If I were, believe me, I would." " What if they really don't work?" " What difference will it make?" "The general will be on the bridge by nightfall." "He won't have to make contact with the bridge if he's on it, will he, sir?" "Well... if anyone rocks the boat, iťs not gonna be me." "The regular projector chap's at lunch." "I'll have it in a moment." "You're doing splendidly, Fuller." "Don't worry." "I don't need lunch." "Damn!" "Nearly there, sir." "Iťs really worth your time, sir." "Believe me." "There." "Splendid view of the Dutch countryside." "No tanks." "Wait a moment, sir." "Iťs a lot clearer in the next picture." "If I can just..." "Now." " Next." " Yes, sir." "I've had this one enlarged." "Yes." "I shouldn't worry about them." " But, sir, you see, they are tanks." " I doubt if they're fully serviceable." " Still got guns." " So have we." "But, sir... if they weren't serviceable, why would they try to conceal them?" " Normal routine, Fuller." " We keep getting reports from the Dutch." "I've read them!" "And so has Field Marshal Montgomery." "Now, look here." "There have been thousands of photographs from this sortie and all the others." "How many of them have shown tanks?" " Just these, sir." " You seriously want us to cancel the biggest operation mounted since D-day because of three photographs?" " No, sir. - 16 consecutive drops have been cancelled in the last few months for one reason or another." "But this time the party's on." "And no one is going to call it off." "Is that fully understood?" "Yes, sir." "GENERAL HORROCKS' XXX CORPS." "H.Q." "LEOPOLDSBURG ON THE BELGIAN-DUTCH BORDER" "Thank you, gentlemen." "Thank you." "Gentlemen, this is a story that you will tell your grandchildren." "And mightily bored they'll be!" "The plan is called Operation Market Garden." "Market is the airborne element and Garden the ground forces-thaťs us." "Now, this is our position on the Belgian border here." "Tomorrow three airborne divisions will begin landing in Holland." "35,000 men taking off from 24 airfields in troop-carrying planes or towed in gliders." "The American 101 st here, around Eindhoven." "The American 82nd here, south of Nijmegen, and our own 1 st Airborne boys and a Polish brigade here at Arnhem," "64 miles behind enemy lines." "Now, their job is to take and hold all the bridges in these three areas." "Our job is to punch a hole through the German front line here and then drive like hell up this road, linking up with each airborne division on the way up." "Speed is the vital factor." "The plan is to reach Eindhoven in two to three hours, and Arnhem in two to three days." "That, gentlemen, is the prize." "The bridge over the Rhine." "The last bridge between us and Germany." "Kickoff will be at 1435 hours tomorrow afternoon." "The Irish Guards and colonel Vandeleur will take the lead." " Christ." "Not us again." " What ďyou say to that, Joe?" "Delighted, sir." "Truly delighted." "I've selected you to lead us, not only due to your extraordinary fighting ability, but also because, in the unlikely event that the Germans ever get you, they will assume from your attire that you're a wretched peasant" "and immediately send you on your way." "Now, maintaining the speed of our advance will no doubt be tough going, as iťs a single highway." "But, no matter what, we must reach those 1 st Airborne boys in 48 hours." "Now, gentlemen, I'm not saying that this will be the easiest party that we've ever attended." "But I still wouldn't miss it for the world." "I like to think of this as one of those American Western films." "The paratroops lacking substantial equipment, always short of food." "These are the besieged homesteaders." "The Germans, well, naturally, they're the bad guys." "And 30 corps, we, my friends, are the cavalry on the way to the rescue!" "COLONEL FROST'S QUARTERS" "BRITISH 1st AIRBORNE DIVISION." "ENGLAND" "Oh." "Do you want me to pack that as well, sir?" " No, thank you, Wicks." "I'll carry it." " Sir." " You haven't forgotten my golf clubs?" " They'll be coming later in the staff car." "What about...?" "Sorry, sir?" "What about my dinner jacket?" "Are you sure you'll be needing that, sir?" "Well, leťs hope so." "U.S. 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION." "ENGLAND" "This is chock full of vitamins." "Here, Eddie." "Have a little strength." "Hey, where'd you put that?" " Dammit, Eddie." "Give it back." " Right." "There you are." "I wish you hadn't done that." "You see, my problem is I'm not totally crazy about the prospect of dying." "So don't die." " That garbage isn't gonna keep you alive." " Well, what is?" "What is?" "Well..." " Not gettin' shot." " What can guarantee that?" "Nothin'" " For sure." "You will." " I will what?" " You tell me, Eddie." "You tell me I won't die." " All right." "You won't die." " No, no." "Guarantee me." "I want you to guarantee me I won't die." "I guarantee you." "come on." "Leťs get some food in ya." "Come on." "I wasn't kidding." "Hey, Eddie!" "Were you kidding?" "When you think we only had seven days to get everything organised, iťs quite a..." "Bloody miracle." "It took six months to set up the D-day drop." "And that was only half as big as this." " How ďyou feel?" " Fine." "I'll feel even better when we're in Holland." "A few months back when I was appointed to this command" "I told you I had never jumped but thought I ought to give it a go." " Well, you did me a big favour." " Oh, really?" "What?" "You said "Roy, you're far too old for that kind of thing and much too large."" "Did I?" "What was the favour?" "Well, I didn't quite tell you everything at the time." " But I'm prone to airsickness." " Good gracious!" "Every flight?" "We'll soon find out, won't we?" "Soon be home, Harry." " Better than the desert, eh, sir?" " What was that?" "Easier than walking, sir." "If you say so, Hancock." "Yeah." "Fine, sir." "The artillery should be able to clear the way pretty well-your initial advance." "We'll move as soon as their barrage has got going." " Yes, thaťs absolutely fine." " Follow behind it as close as we can." "But this isn't going to be the pushover that everybody seems to think it is." "No, I didn't think so." "Morning, Alan!" "Your sleeping beauties know there's a war on, do they?" "Is it true that the Germans have put more troops ahead of us?" "Yes." "They don't intend to just let us walk in the front door." "Hello, Bob!" "Hope thaťs not my funeral they're going to!" "And I'm still worried about having to throw everything up this road." "But there's no alternative." "Morning, Tom!" "So I've decided to run the road like a railway." "Nobody will be allowed to put any vehicle on that road without my permission." " Including me?" " Good luck, sir!" "You too!" "Especially you, Joe." "Morning, Derek!" "Glad to see somebody knows where we're going." "Time, Joe." "Thaťs the killer." "We can't afford to drop behind schedule." "So, for Goďs sake, keep your tanks on the move." "Good God Almighty." "Thaťs just the 101 st." "The other two groups are on the northern route." "H-hour in 90 minutes." " I'd better be going, sir." " Right you are, Joe." "Any last-minute changes, Bob?" "If we run into difficulty, we call in the air force with purple smoke." " First class!" "And good luck, Joe!" " Thank you, sir." " Do you think you'll be able to manage it?" " I've got nothing else planned for today." "Ta." "I told you you should have had the bloody thing out." "What the hell's that?" "Iťs flak." "GENERAL BITTRICH'S H.Q." "SOUTH OF ARNHEM" "General Bittrich!" "In here, Matthias." "Fantastic, isn't it?" "Just once to have such power in my hands." " Red on!" " Red on." "If there's no more opposition than this on the road, we shall be all right." "B company to me!" "A company over there!" "FIELD MARSHAL MODEL'S H.Q. HARTENSTEIN HOTEL NEAR ARNHEM" "Excuse the interruption, Field Marshal, but..." "British paratroopers have landed... three kilometres from here." "Why should they do that?" "There is nothing important here." "Me!" "I am important." "They must all be coming just to capture me." "call my chauffeur and car." "Evacuate the headquarters." "And don't forget my cigars." "Oh, God!" "General, are you all right?" "Yeah." "OK, you guys." "Come on." "Gather your stuff and move!" " This is it, Jim." " OK, sir." "You OK?" "Right." "Leťs go." "Then keep trying." "There must be someone there!" "My apologies." "I can get no sense from anybody." "They say thousands of troops are dropping over Holland." " Yes, west of Arnhem." " Right on top of Field Marshal Model." "I can't get through to his headquarters." "A strong force has landed south of Nijmegen." "Nijmegen?" "They're after the bridge." "That doesn't matter." "Perhaps they've landed in the Field Marshal's soup." "Yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" "Now listen." "I'll take care of Arnhem." "You get to Nijmegen as fast as you can." "Take anything thaťll move... every man that can walk, and hold the bridge." "No." "Field Marshal Model." "Nothing must cross it." "Is that clear?" "You must hold that bridge under any circumstances." " Understood?" " Clear." " Ryan and Ross, come with me!" " Cover the right flank." " How far away is headquarters?" " Half a mile." "Maybe more." "Brigadier Lathbury's just left, sir. 2nd Battalion are on the river road." "Good." "Thank you, Baker." "Any news of Freddie Gough's Jeep squadron?" " Iťs unconfirmed..." " Bad luck, considering how few gliders we lost on the way in." "A lot of the special Jeeps failed to arrive." "Those that did have been badly shot up in an ambush." "So no one's going to get to Arnhem Bridge except on foot." "Splendid." "They must be from the lunatic asylum, sir." "Iťs located on the far side of the wood." "They escaped when it was bombed this morning." "Do you think they know something we don't?" "All guns commence firing!" "Get moving." "Driver advance." "Message received." "Thank you." "Out." "Start the purple!" "Start the purple!" "Take cover!" " Smoke loaded!" " Fire!" "come on." "Get the wounded down the line." "Get that wreck off the road." "Joe, how the hell...?" "How the hell do they expect us to keep to schedule on a road like this?" "You don't know the worst." " This bit we're on now..." " Yes?" "Iťs the wide part." "Peter-general's coming in." " How's it going now?" " Not too well, sir." "We haven't made contact with General Browning, 30 corps or England." " So no one knows we've arrived safely." " Not as far as we know, sir." "What about those VHF sets?" "It appears the sets have been delivered with the wrong crystals." " So they're quite useless?" " Yes, sir." "I'm afraid they are." "Do Brigadier Lathbury and colonel Frost know about the Jeep squadron?" "Not as far as we know, sir." "We're unable to contact any units moving into Arnhem." "Not a very satisfactory state of affairs, Steele." " No, sir." " We can't quite understand it, sir." " Iťs perfectly good equipment." " Then get it sorted out, before we have a bloody disaster on our hands." "Sir." "Hancock, I've got lunatics laughing at me from the woods, my original plan has been scuppered now that the Jeeps haven't arrived, my communications have completely broken down." "Do you really believe that any of that can be helped by a cup of tea?" "Wouldn't hurt, sir." "GENERAL BITTRICH'S FORMER H.Q." "NOW TAKEN OVER BY FIELD MARSHAL MODEL" "Forgive me for returning, Field Marshal." "I must press for permission, if it becomes necessary, to blow up the bridges at Arnhem and Nijmegen." "That is out of the question." "Never." "Is that clear?" "We need them for our counterattack." "counterattack?" "With what?" "Paratroopers cannot fight long." "They are too lightly equipped." "Isolated they are lost." "I have spoken to Von Rundstedt." "All reinforcements come to us first." "Every hour we get stronger and they grow weaker." " But if we blow the bridges..." " They don't want the bridges." "Do you really think if they wanted the bridges... they would have landed 12 kilometres away?" "Iťs ridiculous." "Thank you for the tea." "Our lightning-like assault on Arnhem Bridge is certainly a smashing success." "I've an aversion to apples." "I'm so sorry." "I'm sure the Germans will be surprised." " Are there many of you?" " Yes, there are thousands of us." "Thank you for coming." "Thank you!" " This isn't a victory parade, you know." " Come on, sir." "Enjoy the moment." "I will enjoy the moment when we reach the bridge and find it intact." "It will be." "Things couldn't be going better." "Nothing's wrong." "Yes, I know." "Thaťs exactly what is wrong, Harry." "Yes." "U.S. 101st AIRBORNE AREA" "THE SON BRIDGE" "Jesus christ!" "Stay down!" "Shit!" " There's still no contact, sir." " Keep at it." "I shall be back shortly." "Brigadier Lathbury can't have gone that far." "I'm sure we'll have them fixed by the time you get back, sir." "can you get a message down to 30th corps on that dingus?" "Yes, sir." "We just got word from the 82nd up ahead." "They captured the Grave Bridge intact!" "Terrific." "Except 30th corps ain't about to reach the goddamn intact Grave Bridge until the goddamn Son Bridge is fixed!" "Tell our British cousins to hustle up some Bailey stuff." "I'll meet 'em in Eindhoven." "Tell those schmucks to do this right and have their Bailey stuff at the front." " And be sure to say "please"." " Yes, sir." "Joe!" "I make it just under six miles to Eindhoven." "We won't make it tonight." "Iťll be dark shortly." "Well, I hope to God the 101 st can hang on till tomorrow." "Giles, remember what the general said." "We're the cavalry." "It would be bad form to arrive in advance of schedule." "In the nick of time would do nicely!" "These plans should have been left in England." "They're top secret." "And now we have all we need - units, defence plans, objectives and the schedule for further drops." "I have prepared Nijmegen Bridge for demolition if I blow it up tonight." "This Operation Market Garden must fail." "Why do all my generals want to destroy my bridges?" "come, Ludwig." "We'll have dinner." "Dinner?" "But what about these plans?" "These plans?" "They are false." "Just a trick." "We were supposed to find them." "White wine or red?" "We're still getting nothing from colonel Frosťs battalion, sir." "Thank you, cole." " I hope Johnny's meeting less resistance." " We've got to get to the bridge." "We're blocked ahead." "There's more resistance than we were led to expect." "I must see for myself how he's doing." "All right, cole!" "What is their strength?" "I can't estimate yet." "Dutch underground people were here trying to explain." "I'm just not sure how much they know." " What about Brown?" " They've both had it, sir." "christ Almighty!" "They've got round behind us!" "You should spend the night with us." " Gerald, I've got to get back to HQ." " Yes, but alive, sir." "If we can reach them, there are some houses over there." "We can get ourselves organised and try and find out what the hell's happening." " Right." " Sergeant Major." "Something just occurred to me." "We're wearing the wrong camouflage." "Iťs all very well for the country, but I doubt if iťll fool anyone in the towns." "come on." "I'm awfully sorry, but I'm afraid we're going to have to occupy your house." "All right, chaps." "We're in here." "Come on." " And Dick." " Yes, sir?" "Take your men and occupy that house." "Make sure you can cover the bridge." "Right, sir." "Sergeant." "Hello, Dog charlie Fox..." "Rip down those curtains." "Pile all this furniture against the window." "All right?" "Hello, Dog charlie Fox." "We have reached our objective." "What is your position?" "Over." "There's nothing, sir." "I can't contact Brigade at all, sir." "Tried the other battalions?" "Any luck?" " Keep trying." " Hello, Dog charlie Fox." " Order them out." " Please, Mother." " This is my house." " Perhaps by tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" "Yes, Mother." "Shall we have a go at the far end now, sir?" "Having a go is hardly textbook terminology, Harry." "But you'll let us try, sir?" " Down!" "Take cover!" " Cover fire!" "Quick!" "Smoke!" "Right!" "Come on, lads!" "come on!" "Keep going!" "Pull back!" " Are you all right?" " Yes, I'm fine." "We'll deal with them later." "When it gets dark." "come on." "Leťs get on with it." "Now!" "Now we're in trouble!" "You bloody missed it!" "You knocked my arm, you clumsy bastard!" "Now we'll never get out of here!" "We've hit an ammunition dump!" "A bloody ammo dump!" "Shit!" "Fool's courage." "She says you are much too noisy." "She does realise there is a war going on, doesn't she?" "She has never liked noise." "She hates it." "Hates it!" " Colonel Frost!" "They're coming, sir." " Excuse me." " Many of them?" " Can't tell, sir." "can only hear them at the moment." " Hold your fire!" " Hold your fire!" "command." "Wait for the command." " Wicks." " Sir." "Right, off you go." "Get that bloody stretcher inside!" "Here we go." "Good morning, sir." "Mr cornish is straight through there." "Hello, Dick." "Iťs all right." "Sit down." " You all right?" " Fine, sir." "Iťs only a flesh wound." " How are things?" " Not too bad." "Good." "What is bad, I'm afraid, is this." " Careful." " We hold the north end of the bridge." "The Germans hold the south." "But now they probably control most of the town," " Including the church tower." " You're saying we're surrounded." "Yes." "Something like that." " Er, now, what else?" " Sir." "I was a bit surprised to find Bittrich's panzer troops here, sir." "Surely you didn't believe all that nonsense they told us." "About the enemy being made up of... what was it?" "Old men, children." "Hm?" "I'll have to risk it." "Things aren't getting any better." " Sergeant, how is it?" " We can't clear the street, sir." "Enemy strength is increasing and iťs impossible to get to the bridge." "Thank you, Sergeant." "Iťs imperative that I get back to HQ before the situation gets out of hand." "If iťs all right with you, cleminson and I will come part of the way." "End house!" "Bottom window, sir!" " Cleminson, get over here!" " Sir!" "Hang on, Gerald." "In here." "can't you move your legs?" " No." " Must be spinal." "Can you help us?" " How?" " Don't you know a doctor nearby?" "We can take him to the hospital." "You go." "He will be fine." " Go, sir." " You go." "Go up." "They're certainly at the back." "Whaťs it like at the front?" "We're surrounded, sir." "Yes." "Quite." "EINDHOVEN. 48 MILES FROM ARNHEM" "Hey, you!" "Are you Vandeleur?" " Yes." " I'm Bobby Stout." " How do you do?" " Hell of a day, huh?" "Look at 'em." "Wild!" " Have you ever been liberated?" " Divorced twice." "Does that count?" " Yes, that counts." " That Bailey crap." "You got it here?" "When you refer to "Bailey crap"," "I take it you mean that glorious precision-made British-built bridge, which is the envy of the civilised world." "The trucks are down there somewhere." "How you get them through this crowd I don't know." "No problem." "I got a side road pegged out thaťll avoid all this." "American ingenuity." " Oh, really?" " I was born in Yugoslavia," " But what the hell?" " Yes." "U.S. 82nd H. Q..." "SOUTH OF NIJMEGEN" " Where the hell have you been?" " With Dutch friends at Nijmegen." "We can't take the bridge." "The Germans have moved in panzer troops." " Don't they want us to get across?" " They've sealed off the whole area." "Here." "You can see on this map." "Every street leading to the bridge is blocked." "Every house is occupied." "The Dutch underground people say iťs just impossible to break through." "They could be right." "Where's the captain?" "Dead." "I didn't ask you how he was." "I asked you where he was." " Sir." " Not now." " I'd like you to look at my captain." " I'm sorry." "Put him down." "What in the name of hell do you...?" " You told me to put him down, sir." " I'm in no mood for crapping around." " If you don't look at him, he's gonna die." " He's dead now." " Iťd mean a lot if you'd check him out." " For chrisťs sake, get him outta here!" "Would you look at him, please, sir?" "Right now." "Or I'll blow your fucking head off." "Right now." " I can give him a quick examination." " Thank you very much, sir." "Son of a bitch." "Orderly!" "Well, I got the bullet out of his skull." " He's gonna live though, right?" " He's gonna have one hell of a headache." "You should turn me in now, sir." " That was a court-martial offence." " Yes, sir." "Hope to hell it was worth it." " I guess only time will tell on that, sir." " My response is strictly limited." "Regardless of my personal preference." "Like somebody cheating in school." "Once word gets out you can behave any way you please, your discipline's gone." "So you're gonna have to be arrested." "Over and out." "Lieutenant Rafferty." " Yes, sir." "Colonel." " This is Sergeant..." "Whaťs your name?" " Dohun." "Eddie Dohun." " Sergeant Dohun pulled a gun on me and threatened to kill me unless I did what he ordered." "I want you to put him under arrest." "I want you to keep him there." "I want you to keep him there for at least 10 seconds." " I'm not all that sure I understand." " Count to 10, Lieutenant... fast." "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10." "Like that, sir?" " Thank you, Lieutenant." " Colonel." "This is yours, I think." "It sure looks like mine." "You scared the shit out of me, you stupid bastard." " You did fine, if it makes you feel better." " Goddamn right it does." " Eddie." " Sir?" "You wouldn't really have killed me, would you?" "Thank you, sir." "Right!" "Leťs haul a little ass!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "come on, soldier!" "Pound it!" "We've got a schedule to meet." " How much longer now?" " About another four hours, sir." "Shit!" "come on, boys!" "We're not doing this for fun." " Hey, soldier!" "Get over here!" " Yes, sir." " And pull on this rope." " Yes, sir." "Didn't you ever build a Bailey bridge?" " No, sir." " Neither did I." "clear the way!" "Clear!" "clear!" " Roll it, fellas!" " Right, come on!" "All aboard!" "Leťs get moving again!" "SON BRIDGE - 39 MILES FROM ARNHEM" "Thanks, fellas!" " Whaťs wrong, sir?" " They're 36 hours behind schedule." " Lieutenant!" " Sir!" "We'll be turning you over to the 82nd now." "They're good soldiers, the 82nd." "Just be sure you keep your hand on your wallet at all times." "GRAVE BRIDGE - 22 MILES FROM ARNHEM" "They're here." "Iťs 30 corps!" "They're here, chaps!" "You're late, you lazy bastards!" "But we'll forgive you!" "That was gracious of me, don't you think?" "Take cover!" "Bring up the Piat!" "Make sure iťs within range." "come on!" "You'll miss it!" "Right, lads!" "Go, go, go!" "corporal!" "I need a Jeep." "Well done, laddie." " We thought you were dead." "They said..." " I assure you, it was an error." "HARTENSTEIN HOTEL NOW BRITISH 1st AIRBORNE H.Q." "That was the general." " Good morning, gentlemen." " Morning, sir." "carry on, thank you." "Morning, Baker." "Morning, James." " Morning, sir." " Harry." "Apologies for my enforced absence." "Dennis." " Sir." " Gerald Lathbury's out of action." "I'd like you to take over the brigade." "How soon can you leave?" " Right away, sir." " Keep pushing forward to the bridge." " Did the rest of the division arrive safely?" " Yes, but we're in trouble." "It seems we've landed on top of two SS panzer divisions." "Good God!" "As you can imagine, iťs hard to stop tanks with rifles and machine guns." " Show me." " Well, you can see what we're up against." "Johnny Frost has managed to get as far as the bridge." "But the Germans are driving to the river and may have cut them off completely." "I see." "Now the entire division is here, we should be able to break through to him." " Sir." " It certainly gives us more of a chance." "Sosabowski's Polish brigade is due at 12." "If it arrives." "Yesterday's airlift was late due to fog in England." "The gliders bringing the equipment didn't arrive." " Now give me the good news." " I'm afraid there isn't any, sir." "We're more or less surrounded." "So far we're holding our own, but we're short of food, medicine and ammunition." " Aren't we getting our daily supply drop?" " The air force are flying in on schedule." "The trouble is, the Germans have overrun the dropping zones." " Don't our pilots know that?" " Afraid not, sir." " In heaven's name, why?" " Iťs the radios, sir." "We still haven't been able to make contact with anyone outside Arnhem." "Fools!" "This way!" " We're here!" " Here!" "Over here!" "Drop 'em over here!" "What the hell are they doing?" "They must be able to see us." "They can see us, but they're under orders to ignore signals from the ground." "For all they know, we could be Germans." "They're giving it to the bloody Germans." "charles." "Poor bastard." "Oh, well." "Maybe tomorrow." "Here." "Where's he going?" "The bloody fool!" "He'll never make it." "Those bleeding' snipers'll hit him." "come back!" "come on, Ginger, mate." "Come on!" "He'll never lift it." "Bring it back, mate!" "Come on!" "come on!" "Run, laddie!" "Run!" "Oh, Jesus christ!" "NIJMEGEN BRIDGE" "In here." " Did you get any of that?" " I think she wants a taxi." "KATE TER HORST'S HOUSE OUTSIDE ARNHEM" "Kate!" " Doctor." " Good evening, Kate." "May I introduce Mrs Ter Horst?" "colonel Weaver." " Is your husband not returned yet?" " He should have been here by now." "He must be having difficulties coming through the German lines." "Well, in that case, we will have to ask you for a decision." "colonel Weaver has a request to make." "Well, what we've done is we've set up a defensive pocket, more or less thumb-shaped, with the river as the base." "Mrs Ter Horst speaks surprisingly good English." "Then you understand we're in a strong position for holding out until 30 corps reaches us." "But we have to make certain arrangements." "The words come through." "I don't know if I follow the military strategy." "We have the main hospital, of course, but it is full to bursting." "Perhaps you understand that we have great need of additional space." "Our house would seem suitable." "Iťs just for the slightly wounded." "We'll patch them up, send them back." "I feel it will need a little more than that." " We're wasting time." "Come." " Thank you, Kate." "I will see you, colonel." "I will come back." "Please sit." "Come take this chair." "Here." "come over here." "Sit." "Thaťs far enough!" "We can hear you from there!" "Rather an interesting development, sir." "My general says there is no point in continuing this fighting." "He is willing to discuss a surrender." "Tell him to go to hell." "We haven't the proper facilities to take you all prisoner." "Sorry." " What?" " We'd like to, but we can't accept your surrender." "Was there anything else?" "All right?" "And now?" "Flatten Arnhem." " Any movement in Nijmegen?" " None." " No way of blasting through?" " I'd lose all my men." "There's God knows how many out there already." " You mean iťs over, sir?" " I didn't say that, did I?" "We've paid for that bridge and we're going to collect, but I need tank support." "Well, you've got it, Jimmy." "The Grenadier Guards will be happy to oblige." " Is that all right, Alex?" " Absolutely." "Iťs not just tanks." "I need boats." "If 30 corps were American, we would have boats." " Mike?" " I think we might have a few somewhere." " Can you get them here by tonight?" " It won't be easy, sir." "We've got one road, 10-mile traffic jams on it and Germans throwing shells at us." " I don't know quite what we can do..." " Except try." "You can do that, can't you?" "Thank you, gentlemen." "Thank you." "Now, look here." "About these boats..." "What is your opinion?" "The general's a bit scratchy today, but iťs nothing personal." "When we dropped on Sunday, I think he cracked his spine." " How many boats have we got, then?" " About six in each truck." "Where's Major cook, soldier?" " I think over there, sir." " Thank you." "Julian, where the hell are you?" "Here, sir." "We're going to take Nijmegen Bridge tonight." " Whaťs the best way to take a bridge?" " Both ends at once." "I'm sending two companies across the river by boat." "I need a man with very special qualities to lead." "Go on, sir." "He's gotta be tough enough to do it and he's gotta be experienced enough to do it." "Plus one more thing." "He's gotta be dumb enough to do it." "Start getting ready." "What was all that about, Major?" "Well, someone's come up with a real nightmare." "A real nightmare." "come on!" "Keep moving!" "We got word from the Dutch resistance at Arnhem." "Iťs not going well for the British." "Their main force never reached the bridge." "Those that did are hanging on." " And Urquhart?" " His back is to the river." "The Germans have trapped his men in a pocket, and they're squeezing it." "How long can he hold?" "Where are those goddamn boats?" "Just keep it clear!" "Right!" "They're no further than we thought." "Julian, we have a little change in plans." "We're to make the crossing in daylight." " Daylight?" " Traffic's all screwed up." "By the time we're ready, iťll be 0800." "Thaťs when we go." "Fine." "I'd like to wait and go tomorrow night, but the British can't hold." "Better by daylight." "Much." " Any news of the boats?" " No." "We're switching..." "You want some?" "No, thank you." "We're switching the start till nine, to make sure." "You start laying smoke just before we go." "Fine, fine." "They're gonna get creamed." "Your smoke screen's gonna be their only protection." "Don't worry." "We'll cover you." "Please." "OK." "Can I have your attention, please?" "can I have your attention?" "Our nine o'clock departure has been postponed till ten." "So you can all have an extra hour's fun and relaxation." "Major, we got any more information on those boats?" "We're reliably informed that they float." "Outside of that, we don't know squat." "Not how many, not how heavy, not how big." "We are sure that the river's wide and that the current is strong." "As more cheery information comes my way, I'll be happy to pass it along." "In the meantime, just think of this as on-the-job training." "Whaťs the matter?" "No sense of humour?" "You men are probably wondering why I've called us here together." "I've reached a decision that I'd like to share with you all." "I intend to go across like George Washington." "Standing on the prow." "You guys can do the rowing." "Thaťs it!" "Move 'em out!" " What the...?" " What did you expect?" "Destroyers?" "come on!" "Put it together!" "What else can you see besides smoke?" "Nothing yet, but they are going to try a river assault." "It will fail." "Of course it will fail, but... what do we do if it doesn't?" "I ask your permission to blow up the bridge." "Out of the question." "I understand, Field Marshal." "They will not cross the river and we will blow no bridges." "Have all demolition charges been checked?" "Yes, sir." "Everything is wired and ready." "captain Krafft is standing by as ordered." "The bridge will not fall into enemy hands." "As soon as the first British tank starts to cross..." "I'll blow it sky-high." " Leťs get going!" " All right!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "When you get to the water, go on!" "Don't wait!" "Go!" "If you don't have an oar, use your rifle butt!" "Anything!" "Row!" "One... two." "The currenťs taking us down!" "Stay to your right!" " Support fire ordered, sir." " Thank you." "Row!" "Get down!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Hail Mary, full of grace." "Hail Mary, full of grace." "Hail Mary..." "Hail Mary, full of grace." "Hail Mary..." "We're drifting!" "Pull to your left!" "come on!" "Pull!" "come on!" "Keep rowing!" "Stay down!" "come on, boys!" "Thy will be done." "Thy will be done." "come on!" "Leťs go!" "Snipers!" "Help me!" "Help me." "Go up the side!" " Can we make it through the tunnel?" " No way, sir." " Up the bank!" " With you, sir." "cover." "come on." "come on!" "Schnell!" "Schnell!" "Sergeant, take four across-draw fire." "Harry and I'll go up the side." "You cover." "Go!" " Go on." " Come on!" "Leťs go!" "Are you ready?" "Yes, General." "Dammit!" "My God, they're only 18 kilometres from Arnhem." "Who can stop them now?" "No one." "Oh, hell." "Any chance, Whitney?" " Not unless we're relieved soon, sir." " Harry?" " Try and get him down to the cellar." " Very good, sir." "Iťs working." "I'm through to HQ." "Where's the colonel?" " Down below." " Get him!" " Colonel Frost!" " What is it?" "Up top!" "Up top, sir!" " Iťs headquarters, sir." "On the radio." " Coming!" "Sunray on set." "Pass your message." "Over." " Whaťs your situation, Johnny?" "Over." " I hadn't expected the pleasure, sir." "We're holding out." "We need reinforcements and, above all, ammunition." "Over." "I'm not sure if iťs a case of us coming for you... or you coming for us." " Well, we'll just wait for 30 corps, then." " That would probably be best." "Very reassuring talking to you, sir." "I'm sorry, Johnny." "Getting stuck on that bloody bridge, four days on your own." " Have you anything else for me?" " No, sir." "I'll call when our friends arrive." " Over." " All right." "Good luck." "Out." " Sergeant Tomblin!" " Here, sir!" "I'm coming over!" "Sergeant Taylor!" "I don't understand." "Why aren't you moving?" "Whaťs the matter with you?" "Those are British troops at Arnhem." "They're hurt-bad." "You're not gonna stop." "Not now." "I'm sorry." "We have our orders." "We busted our asses getting here." "Half my men are killed and you just stop... and drink tea?" "We're now facing a different situation." "We can't lead with tanks." "Jerry will pick us off like sitting ducks." "Our infantry are still fighting in Nijmegen." "When they get here, we'll move on." "Must you do everything by the book?" "Our orders are to wait for the infantry." "I'm sorry, but there it is." "Sir." "Iťs Major carlyle, sir." "All right." "I'm all right." " Hello, Harry." " Hello, Johnny." "Things not so good, huh?" "I've been meaning to ask you something and I haven't because I know you were so anxious that I should, and I wouldn't give you the satisfaction." "But why the hell do you always carry that bloody umbrella?" " Memory." " What?" "Bad memory." "Always forgot the password." "I knew no Jerry would ever carry one." "I had to prove I was an Englishman." "Harry?" "My general says, "Please take it."" ""Iťs very good chocolate." "Your planes dropped it to us yesterday."" "English." "Red on!" "Red on." "God bless Field Marshal Montgomery." "Would five minutes be too much?" "Just five minutes respite." "Dear God grant these young men" "die in peace and quiet." "I'm sorry, lads, but you're going to have to move." "Please." "Take my hand." "We're a bit late with this one, mate." ""Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence."" ""He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:" "his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."" "ELST - 5 MILES FROM ARNHEM" "Bring up the bulldozer." "No, I asked him to come over, but Dr Spaander does agree." " We've got to do something." " Yes." "What?" "Good day, Doctor." "General Urquhart, we have no more space and we have no more supplies." "And since a prisoner of war has more chance than no chance at all," "I have a mind to ask the Germans to accept our wounded into their hospitals if we could arrange evacuation." "Have I your permission to try?" "certainly." "If Weaver agrees." "But I hardly think the Germans will." "Those are our guns out there." "Thaťs 30 corps." "I don't think my permission's going to be your problem." "I've come with a message from General Urquhart." " How you manage that?" " I swam the Rhine, sir." "I'm afraid the radios are all up the spout." "The general asks if you'll get your men across the river." "We've been holding out for six days now." "Any help at all would be of considerable assistance." " You'll swim back with reply?" " Yes, sir." "Well, we can't swim." "Not with equipment." "We have small rubber boats, thaťs all." "Rubber dinghies may be a bit flimsy for the Rhine." "I agree." "Tell the general we're coming." "We're coming tonight." "Yes, sir." " Not possible." " If you would just say yes," " It would be very possible." " Forgive me, but there is a battle." "And we are in the process of winning it." "Winning and losing is not our concern." "Living or dying is." "cease fire." "One hour... two." "Just to evacuate our wounded." "Afterwards you can kill us as much as you want to." "General Ludwig." "cease-fire at three." " Will you thank him, please?" " I just did." "Please, you can go." "How short are we?" "A mile?" "Why don't we just try to bash through?" "For Goďs sake, it must be worth it." "They're trying to force Urquhart away from the river." "Now, once they do that, once they've got him surrounded, he'll be annihilated." "Not in Monty's plan at all." "Have we replaced the boats we lost at Nijmegen?" "Yes." "Well?" "Well, then?" "Thaťs it, then." "We're pulling them out." "It was Nijmegen." "It was the single road... getting to Nijmegen." "No, it was after Nijmegen." "And the fog." "In England." "Doesn't matter what it was." "When one man says to another," ""I know what leťs do today - leťs play the war game", everybody dies." ""Withdraw."" "Two days, they said." "We've been here nine." "One bloody mile - you'd think they could accomplish that!" " Hancock, here are another two." " Thank you." " They're the last two I could find." " Charles." "We've been given our marching orders." "If they discover we're leaving they'll destroy us, so we must take every precaution." "Now, I've designed this like a collapsing bag." "Macdonald will man the wireless so that the Germans have something to listen to." "The padres and medical staff have volunteered to stay behind as well." "Now, the wounded who are too bad to move will replace the men firing, so our defence will seem as before." "By the time the Germans find out whaťs happening, we should be across the river." " Pleasant journey." " Thank you, sir." "GENERAL BROWNING'S H. Q..." "HOLLAND" "General Browning'll be down right away, sir." "He wondered if you perhaps might like to change." " Change?" " Your clothes, sir." "No, thanks." "Hello, Roy." "How are you?" "I'm not sure that I'll know for a while." "But I'm sorry about the way it worked out." "You did all you could." "Yes." "But did everyone else?" "They've got a bed for you upstairs if you want it." "I took 10,000 men into Arnhem." "I've come out with less than two." "I don't feel much like sleeping." "Quite." "I've just been on to Monty." "He's very proud and pleased." " Pleased?" " Of course." "He thinks Market Garden was 90 per cent successful." "But what do you think?" "As you know, I've always thought that we tried to go a bridge too far." "Thanks, Taff."