Description

As the Allied armies dashed across France after victory in Normandy, they remained reliant on one thing - supplies. With Cherbourg the only port in use, everything depended on trucks to deliver enough fuel, food and ammunition to keep the momentum going. But there was a problem. Too few trucks, and too few drivers. The invasion was in danger of stalling, and if it did, the Germans might just regain the initiative. Action was needed, and quickly. Montgomery argued that all resources be channeled into a single, powerful thrust into Germany, but Eisenhower disagreed. the Allies would advance on a broad front. But he did give Montgomery the First Allied Airborne Army to try and capture the major bridges in Holland on the road to the Rhine, ahead of the Allies advance. For the men of the 101st Airborne, the Screaming Eagles, their task was to seize the bridges at Eindhoven. The 82nd would do the same at Nijmegan, and the British 1st Airborne would capture the farthest bridge, at Arnhem. On the ground the British 30th Corps would advance northwards and link up with them, and, if successful, turn the German flank on the Rhine. On 17th September 1944 the plan was put into action, the 101st quickly securing all of its objectives, and the 82nd capturing one bridge. The British 1st Airborne fought its way into Arnhem and seized the bridge over the Rhine. Now all they had to do was hold out until the 30th Corps arrived. But 30th Corps was making slow progress, and although the men of the 101st and the 82nd held out until relieved, in Arnhem it was too late to save the British 1st Airborne. Battle-weary, without ammunition or supplies, only a few survivors escaped back across the Rhine. Of the 10,000 men who had landed, just 2,000 made it out. If the operation had succeeded the war in Europe might have been over by Christmas 1944. Instead, hostilities would continue through the bitter winter. THIS OUTSTANDING NEW PIECE IS THE LONG AWAITED FOLLOW-UP TO TAYLOR'S CONCEPT DRAWING, RELEASED IN AUGUST 2008. THE EDITION IS PERSONALLY SIGNED BY VETERANS OF THE 506th P.I.R, 101st AIRBORNE THAT FOUGHT THROUGHOUT THE ALLIED LIBERATION OF EUROPE. The Limited edition is signed by THREE highly respected members of 'Easy' Company, 506th P.I.R: HERB 'Jr' SUERTH , BILL MAYNARD and ED TIPPER. The Collectors edition is additionally signed by the following veterans of the 506th P.I.R, 101st Airborne: ED SHAMES WILLIAM TRUE , ED JOINT , BILL WINGETT , GEORGE KOSKIMAKI , EDWARD HALLOW and DON BURGETT, The 101st Airborne Edition is also signed by PHIL PERUGINI and this specially released edition is issued with a companion print of Robert's superb pencil drawing 'LONG HARD ROAD' each two print set is personally signed by a staggering EIGHTEEN veterans of the 506th P.I.R, 101st Airborne: Long Hard Road companion print is signed by: PAUL ROGERS , EARL MCCLUNG , HANK ZIMMERMAN , FRANK SOBOLESKI , JAMES "PEE WEE" MARTIN , BUCK TAYLOR and CLANCY LYALL. This particular main print has been additionally signed by 3 further veterans of 'Easy' Company, 506th P.I.R 101st Airborne Division : Buck Compton , Donald Malarkey and Bradford Freeman it has also been signed by Eight British veterans of D-Day and Operation Market Garden : Warrant Officer Kenneth 'Kit' Carson , Flight Lieutenant Ken Frere , Staff Sergeant Bert Parsons , Lance Corporal John Stillwell , Wing Commander Don Wood OBE , Captain Ron Johnson , Staff Sergeant Peter Clark OBE and Leading Aircraftsman Alan Hartley. The companion print the Long Hard Road has been additionally signed by four more veterans of 'Easy' Company, 506th P.I.R 101st Airborne Division : Buck Compton , Donald Malarkey , Bradford Freeman and Ed Tipper it has also been signed by Eight British veterans of D-Day and Operation Market Garden : Warrant Officer Kenneth 'Kit' Carson , Flight Lieutenant Ken Frere , Staff Sergeant Bert Parsons , Lance Corporal John Stillwell , Wing Commander Don Wood OBE , Captain Ron Johnson , Staff Sergeant Peter Clark OBE and Leading Aircraftsman Alan Hartley , that's a total of 29 veterans of D-Day and the Arnhem drop...priced @ £995.00 for both prints.