It Never Snows in September: The German View of Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem

While Robert Kershaw's "It Never Snows in September" doesn't read like C. Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far", it is a wonderful complement and serious study. Kershaw's book details the Battle for Arnhem and associated actions of the Allies Operation Market-Garden from the German perspective. As such this book is in many way the mirror image of Ryan's book, told from the Allied side of the fence. Where "A Bridge Too Far" is wonderful literature on its own right, independent of its value as a historical work, "It Never Snows" is a more difficult read from a pure reading pleasure standpoint but is a WONDERFUL historical treatise. Kershaw uses both historical documents and first hand accounts from interviews of surviving German soldiers to weave an intricate story of the German's surprise to Market and subsequent response to Market and Garden that ultimately stop dead the push Monty thought could go all the way to the Ruhr and beyond to Berlin. While there are no real surprises in terms of the battle perspectives themselves the vantage point provided from looking back at the Allies rather than the traditional way (we Americans) look out at the Axis armies is very refreshing. Another aspect of "It Never Snows" that makes it a really nice piece of work is its thorough documentation of the 2nd SS Panzer Corps' role that was critical to the German blunting of Market-Garden. "It Never Snows" is possible one of the most thorough studies of the 2nd SS (aside from Michael Reynold's "Sons of the Reich") out there that is also enjoyable to read. Certainly "It Never Snows In September" is not written a la Ryan or Ambrose - so if you need your history slick and stylish this is probably not for you - but it is readable and fun to read. Kershaw is a military man by training not a writer like Ryan or Ambrose and given that fact "It Never Snows" is actually a quite good read. It's not simple a dry treatise of facts, there is heart and sole. If you want to know more about Market-Garden and the Battle of Arnhem, and want to have fun learning about it, I suggest combining "A Bridge Too Far" and "It Never Snows in September" as a tag-team. These two books alone will give you your fix and them some. "It Never Snows" is currently out of print and getting a copy will cost you (unless you can find one in a library somewhere) but it's worth every cent!!!

This book's great blend of eye witness accounts, documentary of the German general staff and photographs is highly recommended. Well researched details of the frantic german effort to scrape together units and battlegroups, set aside the myth of the allies bumping into 2 complete, high quality SS panzer divisions, that "only" had to be refitted before being thrown into action again. Excellent book !

Mr Kershaw's account of the Market Garden operation from the Wermacht viewpoint is an exceptional complement to Cornelius Ryan's "Bridge Too Far". The details illustrate the German Army's ability to improvise in the face of incredibly daunting odds. Ad Hoc units scraped from anywhere and everywhere were welded together as kampfgruppen under seasoned leaders and thrown in first to surpress the allied airborne forces, second to prevent the linkup of heavy forces trying to punch through the airborne corridor with the final airborne objective, and finally establish a viable defense west of the German border area. All in the face of powerful allied air and land power. Mr Kershaw's research provides new perspective and insight on a subject which has been covered in exhausting detail by other authors. Unique photography and situation maps enhance the quality of an already exceptional presentation.

One of the best written perspectives on this subject in years. Accurate both in subject matter and pictorials. I used it as a guide while attending the 50th anniversary as a guest of some surviving 2nd and 3rd Battalion veterans. Author is most expert. This book is complemented by Martin Middlebrook's "Arnhem" and the underknown Cornelius Bauer's "The Battle of Arnhem". Kershaw's overall presentation and graphics are tops. Quite stylized and organized well considering the complexity of the tale.

This is one of the better books you'll find covering the famous WW2 battle at Arnhem. The author covers the fighting from the German perspective and covers the battle in great detail. The excellent maps and numerous photos, some not published before, make this a must have book for the historian or anybody interested in this battle. Well worth the money.