Historians: "Bridge Too Far" Operation Was Doomed... By High Iron Content In Dutch Soil

For want of a nail and all that:

...Scotland on Sunday can reveal the secret which doomed some of Britain and Poland's finest soldiers and gave rise to a series of myths about the ill-fated battle.

High levels of iron in the soil around the Dutch town of Arnhem and its infamous bridge caused radio interference and prevented the beleaguered Allied soldiers from communicating with their headquarters. Previously it was though the problem was caused by faulty radios.

That meant vital supplies fell into German hands and Allied soldiers were killed or captured because they had run out of ammunition.

Franlin Delano Roosevelt, miserable failure at planning for an illegal war of choice.

posted by Ace at 11:55 AM

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