The politics of Battle

This week we learned about, among other things, why politicians should usually keep their noses out of military business, especially in the case where they are already in a war to the finish. Without the support of Churchill, General/Field Marshall Montegomery may never have been able to convince Eisenhower and the others that Operation Market Garden would be a success, since he very well may have been relieved of command following the Goodwood debacle. While Eisenhower was always careful about including all the Allies in his planning and decision making, he also made sure that whatever plan conceived was up to military standards. Unfortunately, apparently this did not extend to Operation Market Garden, which as we learned, at the very least failed to accomplish its objectives, if not downright prolonging the war by committing valuable paratrooper divisions to a battle in which they fought as infantry, without armor or heavy weapons, against a numerically superior and upgunned foe. This particular battle just wasn't meant to be. Even had the planning gone better, there was still the problem of not one, not two, but three top notch German officers in the immediate vicinity, ready to take action and crusht the attacks. Of all people, they managed to send paratroopers against General Student, who pioneered the effort early in the war. Market Garden may not have been doomed from the beginning, but it as certainly fragile enough to shatter under any unforseen circumstances.