September Hope

The American Side of a Bridge Too Far

By: John C. McManus

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

In September Hope, acclaimed historian John C. McManus explores World War II’s most ambitious invasion, an immense, daring offensive to defeat Nazi Germany before the end of 1944. Operation Market-Garden is one of the war’s most famous, but least understood, battles, and McManus tells the story of the American contribution to this crucial phase of the war in Europe.

August 1944 saw the Allies achieve more significant victories than in any other month over the course of the war. Soviet armies annihilated more than 20 German divisions and pushed the hated enemy from Russia to deep inside Poland. General Eisenhower’s D-Day Invasion led to the liberation of France. Encouraged by these triumphs, British, Canadian, and American armored columns plunged into Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. The Germans were in disarray, overwhelmed on all fronts, losing soldiers by the thousands as Allied bombers pulverized their cities. For the Third Reich it seemed the end was near. Rumors swirled that the war would soon be over and that everyone would be home for Christmas.

Then came September, and Holland.

On September 17, the largest airborne drop in military history commenced - including two entire American divisions, the 101st and the 82nd. Their mission was to secure key bridges at such places as Son, Eindhoven, Grave, and Nijmegen until British armored forces could relieve them. The armor would slash northeast, breech the Rhine and go wild on the north German plains. However, the Germans were much stronger than the Allies anticipated. In eight days of ferocious combat, they mauled the airborne, stymied the tanks and prevented the Allies from crossing the Rhine. For the first time, using never-before-seen sources and countless personal interviews, September Hope reveals the American perspective on one of the most famous and decisive battles of World War II.

©2012 John C. McManus (P)2012 Gildan Media, LLC

Critic reviews

“In September 1944 the Allies' heady advances ground to a bloody halt all along the Western Front. John C. McManus's superb September Hope takes us to the heart of some of the most intense and dramatic combat of the entire war. A riveting and deeply moving story of uncommon courage.” (Alex Kershaw, New York Times best-selling author of The Longest Winter)

“A fine account of one of the Second World War's most fraught and frustrating battles. John C. McManus's extensive research allows him to tell the story with verve and authority.” (Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Army at Dawn)

Outstanding. Must Read for Students of WW2 History

The WW2 generation is dwindling, most have long moved on to be with their comrades. I am deeply grateful to authors like JCM who are documenting these stories before they are lost to us. We need them now more then ever before. September Hope delivers the experience of MG right along with the characters and timeline of events. Outstanding work.

The cost of war.

I had read and forcing the movie regarding a bridge too far. of course, they rightfully focused on the horrendous sacrifice of the British first airborne at Arnhem, but it was great to listen to this focus of the successes and sacrifices of the American airborne paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd. 

A Bridge too far, the rest of the story….

For those who wondered what happened after the failure of Operation Market Garden and wanted to know more about the operations of the 101st and 82d, this is your book. Cornelius Ryan’s excellent book, a Bridge too far, focuses on the predicament of the British first airborne and the shameful treatment by the British of the Polish Airborne brigade and its leader BG Sosabowski. McManus details the months long grueling battle to hold the Eindhoven Nijmegen corridor by the 101st and 82d. He also describes the 104th Timberwolves under the great Terry Allen clearing the approaches to Antwerp, something Montgomery should have done months earlier. McManus lays blame for the failure of Market Garden at Ike’s door, in my view wrongly. Eisenhower needed at all cost to keep the shaky coalition of the US, UK and USSR together. He would have to expend scarce political capital to get rid of Montgomery’s, so he need to pacify him instead. Had Marshall or even Gavin been in charge, they would have told Montgomery, clear Antwerp and it approached and I don’t want to hear from you until it is done, and if you can’t do it , you will be replaced by someone who will. Ike was too astute for that and knew he had to let Montgomery fail to get the upper hand and on the upside if Monty managed to pull it off so much the better. He failed and a somewhat chastened Montgomery after Market Garden was a more manageable Montgomery.

Go yanks go !

A good retelling of A Bridge Too Far. What is really needed for this audiobook is a pdf supplement with various maps showing key engagements. Narrator does a good job. This is one of those books that makes you proud to be an American.

Great History

I’ve always wanted to know more about Market Garden. This told me a lot though it would have been more understandable with maps. I’ll definitely listen again and have maps handy next time

A great book about American courage

If you are a fan of A Bridge too Far and the stories of American servicemen during Operation Market Garden, then you will enjoy this book.

I thought the narrator was great except for one thing. He kept calling various “I” companies “First Company”. No, the Americans used letters / names for their companies. “I” company is the letter I not the Roman numeral for One. “I” as an “Item” Company. Otherwise he did a great job.

Good Story no so great Narrator

If you could sum up September Hope in three words, what would they be?

American Airborne in Holland

What was one of the most memorable moments of September Hope?

The Eisenhower-Montgomery exchange in chapter 1 of the book.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I did not like Mr. Dixion as a narator/reader in fact I nearly returned the book because I did not like his style of narration. He seemed almost monotone, he tried to do accents, this did not go well and (personal item) he called I Company first company throughtout most of the book.

Role of US army during bridge too far" ww2 battles

Narration: clear, nicely modulated.

Content: informative description of American participation in operation market garden. American participation, in contrast with Brits, was guided by smart, competent generals. Brave Brits were led by incompetent officers.

The US Army in Holland

The rest of the story of the ill conceived attack thru Holland in the fall of 1944 expertly researched and relayed by Dr. McManus.

McManus

Outstanding book. Extremely detailed. Great stories about the leadership of BG Gavin. Story about MAJ Julian Cook’s relationship with Gavin was fascinating. His stories about the average infantryman were great. The book shows the heroism of the paratroopers who fought there. Just a fantastic job of writing. Placing the failure on Ike’s shoulders is a great call.