Operation Varsity

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Mark Hone, Mar 1, 2004.

  1. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    Making long term plans for a school battlefields tour in 2005 that is:
    a.) WWII related
    b.) Has some personal connection with the school
    c.) Is 'different' ... I have alighted on the Reichswald and Operation 'Varsity'. Lieutenant Des Turner, our old boy who fought at Arnhem took part in 'Varsity' and one of our former pupils, a bomber pilot, is buried in the Reichswald. Des Turner is featured in the 'Battlefield Tour' section of the excellent Museum of Army Flying CD-ROM about 'Varsity' as he was one of the army guides in charge of a stand after the war. There is a small account of the 'Varsity' battlefield in an old 'After The Battle' but does anyone have any recent knowledge of the area? We enjoyed our trip to Arnhem last October, so it is a feasible jaunt, but I would like to do a recce first and work out whether there is much to see.
     
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    It looks to be an interesting area, and one I have been thinking about exploring myself, having some 1944/45 maps of the area.

    I have a veteran friend, ex-officer KSLI of 3rd Division, who fought there and was touring the area last October; he tells me much of his own battlefield is as it was. He's not on the net yet, but when he is, I will be directing him here.
     
  3. walker1914

    walker1914 Junior Member

    Have you tried reading Ken Ford osprey book about the battles there, 'Rhineland 1945'? from memory it was a good book, with very good maps, i believe that there is some description about the battlefield's today, but not that much
     
  4. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    Yes-I've read the Osprey book you mention. It covers the Reichswald in some detail but then skims over 'Varsity' and the later battles. As I mention the Army Museum of flying CD-ROM is superbly detailed. It basically tells you more than you'd ever want to know!
     
  5. Kiwiwriter

    Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member

    "One More River," by Peter Allen, "Rhineland," by Denis Whitaker, "Rhineland," and by Hubert Essame, should get you started on Operations Varsity and Plunder.

    "By Air To Battle," by Charles McDonald, from the Purnell's series, has a good chapter on Varsity. Also useful is "Geronimo," by William Breuer, on the 17th Airborne's drop.

    The Canadian Official History "The Victory Campaign," has a lot on the Canadian role in Plunder and Varsity. The US Official History volume is "The Last Offensive," also by McDonald.

    Patrick Delaforce's divisional histories are good for the British cross-river assault.

    Robin Neillands "The Conquest of Germany" is excellent, too.

    Not enough has been written about Plunder and Varsity.
     

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