The battle of Arnhem was a major turning point in World War II. It was a gamble by Montgomery, using three airborne divisions, to capture a series of bridges across the wide rivers which separated a powerful army from the plains of northern Germany. Although the initial operation was successful, ground troops did not reach Arnhem quickly enough, leaving a small group of the British 6th Airborne Division encircled by German troops. After nine days of fighting, the survivors were withdrawn. This study consists of detailed research and a series of interviews with British, Polish and German participants in the battle, as well as the Dutch civilians who were caught up in the conflict. Martin Middlebrook is the author of The Somme Battlefields.