Montgomery reaches the Rhine River near Frankfort and organizes a massive crossing. To his south Patton reaches the Rhine at bout the same time and slips a sizable unit across just in time to beat Montogomery, his Doppelgänger in all but vulgarity and tactics. Patton made a show of pissing in the river. Oh, how they disliked one another.
But a show is still a show. Patton had trouble expanding his bridgehead while to his north Montgomery prefaced is crossing with the largest air drop of the war and had room to spread out. The day was foggy and it was a confused and costly crossing. Some of the landing craft were lost and landed back on the west bank. The Germans were depleted but tenacious and many of the airborne were killed before hitting the ground.
There are interesting sidebars describing the development of paratroopers in World War II, the reliable and rugged C-47, and the De Havilland Mosquito, a wooden wonder.
In the Pacific, kamikaze attacks are briefly covered.
In sum, it's a superior series. Some of the combat footage is new but more important the interpretations are more candid than usual. The paratroop drop behind the Rhine is described as a "military disaster" that served no military purpose. Of course the crossing was victorious. What else can you expect from a series called "The Last Days of World War Two"? After all, we won the war, didn't we? Some day I wish someone would put together a documentary called "The First Days of World War Two." There might be an episode called "The Battle of Savo Island," a humiliating defeat for the Allies that doesn't present war as a gift.
But a show is still a show. Patton had trouble expanding his bridgehead while to his north Montgomery prefaced is crossing with the largest air drop of the war and had room to spread out. The day was foggy and it was a confused and costly crossing. Some of the landing craft were lost and landed back on the west bank. The Germans were depleted but tenacious and many of the airborne were killed before hitting the ground.
There are interesting sidebars describing the development of paratroopers in World War II, the reliable and rugged C-47, and the De Havilland Mosquito, a wooden wonder.
In the Pacific, kamikaze attacks are briefly covered.
In sum, it's a superior series. Some of the combat footage is new but more important the interpretations are more candid than usual. The paratroop drop behind the Rhine is described as a "military disaster" that served no military purpose. Of course the crossing was victorious. What else can you expect from a series called "The Last Days of World War Two"? After all, we won the war, didn't we? Some day I wish someone would put together a documentary called "The First Days of World War Two." There might be an episode called "The Battle of Savo Island," a humiliating defeat for the Allies that doesn't present war as a gift.