Bernard Law Montgomery Biography and Timeline — Page 8

Operation Market Garden

Farthest north, the British 1st Airborne Division, supported by men of the Glider Pilot Regiment and the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, landed at Arnhem to secure bridges across the Nederrijn.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Market Garden

Initially expecting a walkover, British XXX Corps planned to reach the British airborne forces within two to three days. After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Market Garden

Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Second Army

After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands. Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Nijmegen Crossing Opens Route North

The capture of Nijmegen bridges allows the ground advance to continue toward Arnhem.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Arnhem

Arnhem was a victory for the Germans (albeit tempered by their losses further south) and a major defeat for the British army. The Allies withdrew from the southern bank of the Rhine and the front stabilised on "the island" between the Rhine and Waal rivers

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Arnhem Bridge Objective Fails

Accepts withdrawal of the surviving British airborne force after the Arnhem bridge cannot be held.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Arnhem

Montgomery orders a retreat, the British lose 1,130 killed & 6,000 taken prisoner

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Arnhem

The 1st airborne retreats, 2,200 are evacuated, 7,000 are captured, killed or wounded

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Arnhem

Orders are given to join up with the Second Army on the south bank of the Rhine

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Second Army

Orders are given to join up with the Second Army on the south bank of the Rhine

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Market Garden Plan Approved

Secures approval for the airborne and ground operation intended to cross major Dutch rivers rapidly.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Comet

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Market Garden

The failure of Operation Market Garden and an acute supply problem brought about by the long distances involved in the quick Allied advance through France brought to an end the advance towards the city of Berlin

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Market Garden

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Single Thrust to Ruhr Proposed

Advocates concentrating Allied supplies on a northern thrust through the Netherlands toward the Ruhr.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Arnhem

Although the Germans counterattacked in October they were repulsed and subsequently the front line in The Netherlands would not move until after the winter

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Maastricht Conference

Presents his assessment of the northern Allied front at Maastricht.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1943-1945

Northern Offensive Proposal

Argues for concentrating resources on a powerful northern offensive.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1943-1945

US First and Ninth Armies Placed under Montgomery

Temporarily receives operational control of US First and Ninth Armies during the Ardennes crisis.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Northern Ardennes Front Reorganised

Reorganises the northern shoulder of the Allied line and prepares forces for renewed offensive action.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Field Marshal

Appointed Field Marshal

Field Marshal

Appointed Field Marshal

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Veritable Opens Rhineland Offensive

21st Army Group opens Operation Veritable to clear German forces from the northern Rhineland.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Rhine

The British cross the Rhine at Wesel

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Plunder Rhine Crossing Begins

Launches the 21st Army Group assault across the Rhine at Rees and Wesel.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Varsity Airborne Assault

Supports the Rhine crossing with the large British-American airborne assault of Operation Varsity.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Churchill Visits Rhine Bridgehead

Accompanies Churchill during a visit to troops after the successful Rhine crossings.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Operation Plunder Preparations Completed

Completes the immense artillery, engineering, smoke and logistical preparations for crossing the Rhine.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Rhineland West Bank Secured

Montgomery's armies secure positions west of the Rhine before preparing the major river assault.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Advance across North German Plain

Pushes 21st Army Group rapidly across northern Germany after breaking out from the Rhine bridgehead.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

German Surrender Delegation Received

Receives German officers seeking terms for forces facing 21st Army Group in northern Germany and nearby areas.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Luneburg Heath Surrender Accepted

Accepts the unconditional surrender of German forces in the Netherlands, north-west Germany and Denmark.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Battle of Rhine

Montgomery & Rokossovsky join together at Wismar

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Twenty First Army Group Links with Soviet Forces

His forces establish contact with Soviet troops advancing from the east as the European war ends.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1945

Allied Control Commission

Initial Member of Allied Control Commission over Germany

Role range: 1939-1945

Chief of Imperial General Staff (CIGS)

Appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff

Created Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Created 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein after his wartime service.

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe within NATO's integrated command structure.

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe within NATO's integrated command structure.