Recommended Books
The books mentioned on this page are split into three groups of books: A few general accounts, unit histories and personal accounts. As we are sure you are aware many books have been written about Arnhem and it would be impossible to list them all but the advisory panel have suggested books that are worth reading and factually accurate which cannot be said for all books printed on the battle!
General Accounts
There have been many many 'general accounts' published over the years ranging from the excellent to the very poor. This list is in the view of the advisory panel some of the better options and if a newcomer to the battle a good place to start. A few comments have been added where appropriate:
Arnhem 1944 The Airborne Battle
by Martin Middlebrook.
Probably the best general history ever of the battle. Written for the 50th anniversary and the author was able to speak with around 500 veterans.
A Bridge too Far
by Cornelus Ryan.
Coverage of the entire operation and Ryan had the benefit of speaking with a number of veterans. Although there are a few crucial errors in it such as the 'non-arrival' of the Recce Squadron jeeps at Arnhem it is nevertheless a good account.
Operation Market Garden Volumes 1 and 2
by After The Battle edited by Karel Margery.
An expensive work but worth it. Includes more photographs taken in 1944 than any other book.
It Never Snows in September
by Robert Kershaw.
Included as the only general German view of Market Garden.
The Devil’s Birthday
by Geoffrey Powell
Kampfraum Arnheim
by Harlan Glenn and Remy
Spezzano. A photgraphic study of the German soldier figting in and around Arnhem, but also includes the corridor.
In this section we also have included a few miscellaneous works like casualties, officers, guide books and escape and evasion.
The Roll of Honour by John Hey
Who was Who by Chris van Roekel – list of officers in the 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem
The Grey Goose of Arnhem by Leo Heaps – story of Operation Pegasus 1
A tour of the Arnhem Battlefields by John Waddy
Major and Mrs Holt’s Guide to Operation Market Garden by Tonie and Valmai Holt
Unit Histories
1st Parachute Battalion
A detailed account of this unit’s actions at Arnhem has not been publsihed - but a useful booklet covering their first few days in Holland has been published. This is:
Four Days at Arnhem by
Simon Curtis, Niall Cherry and John Howes
2nd Parachute Battalion
Without Tradition by Bob Peatling
B Company Arrived by David van Buggenum
B Company Arrived –The Men by David van Buggenum
The Lost Company by Marcel Anker - the actions of C Company at Arnhem
3rd Parachute Battalion
A detailed account of this unit’s actions at Arnhem has not been published - but a useful booklet covering the actions of C Company has been published. This is:
With Nothing Bigger than a Bren Gun by Niall Cherry
156 Parachute Battalion
From Delhi to Arnhem by John O’Reilly
Salute to the Steadfast by Harry Bankhead
Men at Arnhem by Geoffrey Powell
10th Parachute Battalion
Desert Rise Arnhem Descent by Martin Peters with Niall Cherry, John Howes and Graham Francis
11th Parachute Battalion
Arnhem Their Final Battle by Gerrit Pijpers and David Truesdale
21st Independent Parachute Company
Leading the Way to Arnhem by Peter Gijbels and David Truesdale
First In by Ron Kent
1st Battalion Border Regiment
When Dragons Flew by Stuart Eastwood, Alan Green and Charles Gray
No Return Flight 13 Platoon at Arnhem by Haks Walburgh Schmidt
1st Battalion the Border Regiment by Alan Green
2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
By Land Sea and Air by Bart Smulders and Alex Junier with Jaap Korsloot
7th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Off at Last by Robert Sigmond
Nine Days at Arnhem by Robert Sigmond
1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade
Poles Apart by George Cholewczynski
Glider Pilot Regiment
Glider Pilots at Arnhem by Mike Peters and Luuk Buist
Tugs and Gliders by Arie Jan van Hees
Royal Artillery
Arnhem Bridge Target Mike One by Martijn Cornelissen, Bob Gerritsen and David Truesdale
Winged Gunners by Robert Woollacott
Point Blank Open Sights by John Howe
The Gunners at Arnhem by Peter Wilkinson
The first two books mentioned cover the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, the third the 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery while the fourth is a general account of all four Royal Artillery units at Arnhem.
A detailed account of the 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery and the 1st Airborne Forward Observation Unit actions at Arnhem have not been written; although some of the FOU stories are mentioned in the unit’s they were attached to.
1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers
A detailed account of this unit’s actions at Arnhem has not been written but the actions of the sappers in the schoolhouse at the road bridge are covered in:
With Nothing Bigger than a Bren Gun by Niall Cherry
4th Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers
A detailed account of this unit’s actions at Arnhem has not been written.
9th Field Company Royal Engineers
Airborne Engineers The Shiny Ninth by Patrick Pronk
261st Field Park Company Royal Engineers
A detailed account of this unit’s actions at Arnhem has not been written.
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
With Spanners Descending by Joe Roberts
Royal Signals
Echoes from Arnhem by Lewis Golden
Royal Army Service Corps, Army Catering Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Arnhem The Fight to Sustain by Frank Steer
Royal Military Police
The Pegasus Patrol by Jack Turnbull and John Hamblett
Intelligence Corps
Worst Fears Confirmed by Graeme Deeley
Reconnaissance Corps
Remember Arnhem by John Fairley
Freddie Gough's Specials by Bob Hilton
Royal Army Chaplain’s Department
The Torn Horizon by Chris van Roekel
Royal Army Medical Corps
Red Berets and Red Crosses by Niall Cherry
Royal Air Force
The RAF at Arnhem by Geert Maassen and Luuk Buist
Green On by Arie Jan van Hees
German Books
SS Panzergrenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Batallion 16
Arnhem A Few Vital Hours by Scott Revell and Niall Cherry with Bob Gerritsen
Kampfgruppe Knaust
Retake Arnhem Bridge by Bob Gerritsen and Scott Revell
The SS-Unterfuhrerschule Arnheim
Fighting the British at Arnhem by Bob Gerritsen
Jedburgh Teams
Dutch Courage by Jelle Hooiveld
Personal Accounts/Individual Stories
With the Red Devils at Arnhem by Marek Swiecicki – Polish Liaison Officer and most likely the first ever Arnhem book as it was published in 1944.
Arnhem Spearhead by James Sims – 2nd Parachute Battalion member
A Sapper at Arnhem by Harry Faulkner-Brown – 4th Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers member
Arnhem Lift by Louis Hagen – a glider pilot at Arnhem
Urquhart of Arnhem by John Baynes
An Arnhem Odyssey by Jim Longson and Christine Taylor – 1st Bn The Border Regiment member
Twelve Mules and a Pegasus by Harold Padfield – 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers member
Travel by Dark by Graeme Warrack – the Assistant Director of Medical Services – account based on his diary and the story of his escape.
I was a Stranger by John Hackett – commander of the 4th Parachute Brigade but regretfully does not cover his actions during the battle but the story of his escape.
Note various ‘small units’ such as the Public Relations Team and the Dutch Liaison Team have been omitted from this list. However, the advisory panel are happy to suggest sources where available for these units.
The Film Theirs is the Glory
Theirs is the Glory - Arnhem, Hurst and Conflict on Film by David Truesdale and Allan Esler Smith
A book covering the work of the director, why the film was made and subtitled 'Arnhem, Hurst and Conflict on film by David Truesdale and Allan Esler Smith. This book covers the work of the director Brian Desmond Hurst and why the film was made and how and where it was made.
If any member is aware of any other suitable books to include in this list please contact the Fellowship book panel via info@arnhem1944fellowship.org