Peter Vrolijk about “Einsatz Arnheim”

Peter Vrolijk, a well-known and highly respected researcher on the Battle of Arnhem for decades with specialties such as 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalion, 1st Airborne Division Headquarters, Kampfgruppe Krafft, SS-Bataillon Möller and many more was one of a group who were closely involved in the creation of the Einsatz Arnheim book.

Peters view on the book tells: For those who do not know Marcel already, he is the main expert for many years on the German side of the battle and named in lots of books as source regarding the German side of the Arnhem battle.

Till now the German side of the battle has been mainly based on the ‘MS Studies’ of Bittrich, Harmel and Harzer and the Boeree collection (Gelders Archives), and not to mention Kershaw’s book.

Marcel found lots and lots of reports that we could only dream of for many years. So many new details. For example, almost the entire radio traffic of the first hours, KTBs of Panzer Grenadier Regiments, original German maps and overlays of for instance the sperr-linie with the positions sometimes up to Kompanie level, Spindler’s own reports, orders, there is just too much to mention. Many new photos, among them from German PK members that have not yet been published. The book is completely based on original documents.

It will also become clear to the reader that the British advance sometimes took place differently than has been described by many so far because it was usually based on exclusively British reports/witnesses. The German accounts we did not have. Marcel now combines many new German reports and Dutch, British and Polish eyewitnesses into a new, complete picture. For example, we will see certain units and Kampfgruppen mentioned for many years in books disappear and new names appear.

Many who are interested in the German side of the Arnhem battle will notice that a completely new perspective has arise from Marcel’s years and years of in-depth research in archives at home and abroad. I know already that most will be knocked out off his socks with the detailed information Marcel has put into this book. Further discussion we can continue after its publication.

Peter Vrolijk, 13 Oktober 2024

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