No halt at Antwerp

Mahross · #1 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2003, 11:03 AM

What if Montgomery had not ordered Horrocks to halt and given him the 2 extra days which he claimed he could have had before his fuel ran out. Horrocks claimed he could gain a foothold at the Rhine. What do you think would happen if this had happened?

De Vlaamse Leeuw · #2 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2003, 08:20 PM

You mean directly from Antwerp to the Rhine.
I think it would be impossible.

Mahross · #3 (**permalink**) May 13th, 2003, 09:00 PM

Aprroximatly. why not. given the rate of advance after the closing of the falaise pocket it should be possible. why not for just 2 more days. I cant remeber the exact figure but 11th armnoured advance about 250miles in i believe 3 days. I will check the figures though.

Mahross · #4 (**permalink**) May 14th, 2003, 11:08 AM

I checked it was 300 miles in 6 days from crossing the seine to reaching brussels. Therefore, would it not be impossible to advance the distance of Brussels or antwerp in a few days? and gain a foothold over the rhine.

De Vlaamse Leeuw · #5 (**permalink**) May 14th, 2003, 11:21 AM

I do think that there were German troops at that time, although I don't know how many.

TheRedBaron · #6 (**permalink**) June 27th, 2003, 08:31 AM

Getting over a river is a whole different ball game to driving across country... Plus German resistance was begining to form a crust of defence.

Martin Bull · #7 (**permalink**) June 27th, 2003, 02:21 PM

There were two second-line German Divisions in place at Antwerp.

This is an interesting subject as Horrocks honestly admitted after the war that Antwerp was a strategic error on his part.

For a comprehensive discussion of this, see ; -

http://www.9thrtr.com/TT/9THBAT7-8.htm

Friedrich · #8 (**permalink**) June 28th, 2003, 04:37 PM

Well, I think Monty wouldn't have allowed it. We know he was a cautious man who liked to have everything fixed before hand. And as Martin says, there were two German divisions in the area, with short supply lines. Maybe Horrock's forces had supplies for two days, but what was going to happen after those two days? By that time, the Allied supply lines were over-extended since they still depended on Cherbourg...

De Vlaamse Leeuw · #9 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2003, 08:15 PM

Yes indeed. If Monty would have said to Horrock's question, then it might have happend with a few thousands Allies soldiers cut of from their supplies and surrounded by the Germans.