Arnhem was to end the war in Europe three airborne divisions would capture and hold the bridges over the great rivers of Holland and unleash allied forces in Germany Had it worked, the war might have been over by Christmas 1944 In fact it all went wrong The initial operation succeeded, but troops did not reach Arnhem in time and military intelligence had not discerned the real strength of German units around the town Here original documents and the experiences of over 500 participants are blended to describe the British Army last major defeat in battle