(Market Garden thread.) In a message, dated 29 August 1944, Eisenhower wrote: "First Allied Airborne Army, in conjunction with the Northern Group of Armies, will plan and prepare for launching an airborne assault to insure the destruction of the retreating enemy forces."

On 31 August 1944, after an all-night advance, British forces - unexpectedly - managed to cross the Somme River at Amiens. Horrocks: "This was the third time I had employed armoured troops *at night* and, strange as it may seem, each operation had been completely successful."

(During Market Garden troops were *forbidden* to advance after nightfall.)

On 1 September 1944, Guards Armoured Division by-passed Arras and elements reached Douai and Lens.

On 2 September 1944, Guards Armoured Division captured Tournai and crossed the Escaut River.

On 3 September 1944, Guards Armoured Division entered Brussels and by last light had control of all main exits.

(The weekly intelligence report from SHAEF of 26 August 1944 mentions that: "The August battles have done it and the enemy in the West has had it. Two and a half months of bitter fighting brought the end of the war in Europe within sight, almost within reach.")

(SHAEF recommended a single thrust, via the Ruhr area.)

On 3 September 1944, Montgomery, Bradley, Dempsey and Hodges met and agreed on new army group boundaries, which gave Montgomery - suddenly - new opportunities; the Ruhr Area was now in the British sector. Montgomery cabled Alan Brooke: "I have not seen Eisenhower since 26 August

and have had no orders from him, so I am making my own plans for advancing against the Ruhr."

That same day, Montgomery issued a new directive, M.523, in which he planned a major left flank movement, by 21 Army Group, towards Arnhem-Wesel - where the Siegfried Line was not continuous - followed by a swing right towards the Ruhr Area, to begin on 6 September 1944.

The right flank movement would have to come from American 1 Army's 7 and 19 Corps, through the Aachen Gap. A true Allied pincer movement, meant to cross the Rhine River and capture the Ruhr Area.

(At that time, German troops were retreating everywhere in Europe and Allied momentum was at its peak. Ideal circumstances for this plan to succeed. Soon after, the Allied momentum would fade away.)

Neither Eisenhower nor Bradley reacted to Montgomery's directive M.523; truly, an *unknown* lost opportunity.

On 4 September 1944, 11 Armoured Division captured the harbour of Antwerp.

Montgomery foresaw that the Germans would destroy major bridges if British 2 Army would get near them. Montgomery Diary, 4 September 1944: "We shall have to sit back in the Brussels-Antwerp, pretending we do not mean to go towards the Ruhr; if we advance openly towards the Rhine

the Germans will blow the bridges - which would be awkward as north of the Ruhr it is a very big river, in fact almost a sea".

Montgomery Diary, 4 September 1944: "We shall want a big airborne drop to capture the bridges over the Rhine and the Meuse". Operation Comet would begin on 7 September 1944.

It would be an "All British" operation. "1 Airborne Corps will seize and hold the bridges at the following places:
- Over the Maas River at Grave
- Over the Waal River at Nijmegen
- Over the Rhine River at Arnhem
so as to pass through the Guards Armoured Division."

Operation Comet would use coup-de-main parties (unlike in operation Market Garden) to quickly capture bridges.

5 September 1944, "Dolle Dinsdag" (Mad Tuesday) in The Netherlands. German soldiers (in uniform or civilian clothes) walking, on bicycles, in crowded lorries and cars, armoured vehicles, supply trucks, horse and carriages and covered wagons are fleeing.

In Elst, between Arnhem and Nijmegen, civilians could not cross the main road during the day because of the continuous stream of passing vehicles.