Pegasus Bridge Lost

Jet · Feb 22, 2003

What do you think would have happened if John Howard (think thats his name)had not managed to hold the bridge and tanks began to race towards Sword Beach, what do you think would have happened?

Jet

sommecourt · Feb 22, 2003

It would undoubtedly have spelled disaster for 3r Division landing on Sword.

However, let's get a couple of things in perspective... Howard and his men of Oxs & Bucks only took the Bridge; they didn't hold the position in strength. That was largely men from 7 Para under Lt-Col Pine Coffin, whom we mentioned in a previous thread.

JOL · Feb 23, 2003

I think it would have been a big blow to the landing area, and more importantly would have secured the Germans right flank, forcing the Brits to fight through the hedgerows or risk a frontal attack on Caen (Which Montgomery was adverse to do).

With the German flank around Caen more secure, they may have been able to peel of a couple armoured division's to deploy against the American's, maybe delaying any breakout from Normandy, slowly grinding down the Allied resolve defending in the hedgerows?

Capturing Pegagsus and holding it was huge, unfortunate how Montgomery whittled away the 6th Airborne defending the bridgehead though, I thought he wasted them myself.

Jet · Feb 23, 2003

I agree JOL, the 6th were wasted.
I reckon that if the Germans had broken through in the early hours of June 6th, they could have gotten to the beach and caused utter mayhem, and chances are that there would have been another Omaha.
However, if the bridge did fall the chances are that the invasion would not have failed, but would have just slown it down.

Jet (ps, thanx for the info sommecourt)

TheRedBaron · Feb 24, 2003

The 6th airborne were not wasted in the defence of the bridge. In fact they handed over the defence of the bridge only days after capture and their losses in action were caused by them being retained in frontline positions till mid august due to the need for good quality infantry. They were certainly not wasted and indeed D-Day owes much to them for its success. If the bridge had fallen then the road bridge would have to have fallen aswell. This was the idea in taking two bridges close together. It was hoped that if one was taken by holding the other would negate its loss. If it had been retaken by the Germanbs then stalemate would have occured and breakouts would have been confined to the american sector, but it is doubtful that it would have lead to any collapse of the landing area.