The Arrogance of British Intelligence
A Flawed plan
Many historians use the term A Bridge too far to explain the downfall of Operation Market Garden, it is only partially the truth.
The failure of the plan runs deeper than the failure to take the bridge at Arnhem.
The core of the problem was the arrogance of Britirsh Intelligence not to trust the various resistance groups in Europe. From the outset, this was obvious, a Royal Air Force Spitfire, flew a reconnaissance flight over the land XXX Corps tanks were going to travel, the photos showed several gun emplacements, rather than halt the plan, another plane was sent to verify the photos, naturally, they guns were now hidden.
Now, you had the gunners dream, slow moving targets, no room to manouver, and plenty of cover. Hit the front tank, then the back, and take your time.
Ignoring that flaw, the basic logistics of movement were beyond the capability of what was moving, tanks move at a walking pace, going from Normandy to Germany would have been for a jeep to complete, in three days, and here you're expecting tanks to do the job. If the bridges hadn't been blown, the task would have been beyond XXX Corps.
At Arnhem, the Dutch Resistance told British Intelligence, they were NOT fighting old me, young boys, and worn out tanks, but crack Panzer battalions.
Paratroops are good for a quick strike like Mitla Pass, in the Sinai, but they need support ASAP, they fight with what they carry. That is something Adolf Hitler realised after Crete, yet Winston Churchill formed parachute divisions
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