WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk 4. Arnhem, Eastwood and Normandy antics
Apr 23, 2019
Learn about the strategic significance of bridges in WWII, impractical German guns in Crimea, and a daring boy's own story of Normandy in this entertaining podcast episode.
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Arnhem's Critical Third Bridge
- Arnhem was a "bridge too far" because Allied forces could only realistically capture two major river crossings, not three.
- The third bridge was beyond practical military capacity, making it the critical stumbling point of Operation Market Garden.
Gustav and Dora Guns' Futility
- The German Gustav and Dora railway guns were enormous, absurdly large and required thousands to operate.
- Their strategic value was questionable, as Germany was resource-starved and the guns fired very few times.
Motivation Drives Initiative
- Initiative in World War II troops often depended more on motivation than training.
- Volunteers like airborne forces showed more initiative than conscripts, a trait shared by motivated German units like the Waffen SS.