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The First Bridge Too Far: The Battle of Primosole Bridge 1943
For the very first time, the Battle of Primosole Bridge is brought to life in a well-researched narrative solely dedicated to one of the bloodiest and hardest fought battles for British airborne troops of World War Two.
Primosole Bridge in Sicily (13-16 July 1943) provided the stage for the first instance of opposing elite paratroopers parachuting into battle and then fighting each other in a see-saw battle raging under the blazing Mediterranean sky. It's a story of courage and determination. A story of legendary military units and their commanders. A story that now, on the eve of its 75th Anniversary, finally needs to be told.
The British paratroopers of the famed Parachute Regiment's 1st Parachute Brigade, known as the 'Red Devils, ' fought their equally esteemed German paratrooper opponents, known as the 'Green Devils, ' in a battle of attrition central to the entire success of the Allies' first invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe. These two sets of elite Devils fought each other to a standstill in Hellish conditions. The paratroopers found themselves cut off behind enemy lines with dwindling ammunition and ever-growing enemy forces encircling. Their courage and determination in standing up to overwhelming odds allowed the ground forces to arrive and capture the bridge in the nick of time before it was destroyed. The hard-won experience gained by the 1st Parachute Brigade was again tested only a year later at the Battle of Arnhem, the battle christened "a bridge too far." It was in fact an almost identical battle, but on a larger scale, to the ferocious fight that the British paratroopers had faced only months previously. The Battle of Arnhem is well documented. The Battle of Primosole Bridge, which provided the foundations for the men and planning for the legendary events at Arnhem, is virtually unheard of and needs to be told at last in order to honor the sacrifice of the Britain's unsung war heroes.
Primosole Bridge in Sicily (13-16 July 1943) provided the stage for the first instance of opposing elite paratroopers parachuting into battle and then fighting each other in a see-saw battle raging under the blazing Mediterranean sky. It's a story of courage and determination. A story of legendary military units and their commanders. A story that now, on the eve of its 75th Anniversary, finally needs to be told.
The British paratroopers of the famed Parachute Regiment's 1st Parachute Brigade, known as the 'Red Devils, ' fought their equally esteemed German paratrooper opponents, known as the 'Green Devils, ' in a battle of attrition central to the entire success of the Allies' first invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europe. These two sets of elite Devils fought each other to a standstill in Hellish conditions. The paratroopers found themselves cut off behind enemy lines with dwindling ammunition and ever-growing enemy forces encircling. Their courage and determination in standing up to overwhelming odds allowed the ground forces to arrive and capture the bridge in the nick of time before it was destroyed. The hard-won experience gained by the 1st Parachute Brigade was again tested only a year later at the Battle of Arnhem, the battle christened "a bridge too far." It was in fact an almost identical battle, but on a larger scale, to the ferocious fight that the British paratroopers had faced only months previously. The Battle of Arnhem is well documented. The Battle of Primosole Bridge, which provided the foundations for the men and planning for the legendary events at Arnhem, is virtually unheard of and needs to be told at last in order to honor the sacrifice of the Britain's unsung war heroes.
248 pages, Hardcover
Published August 17, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 16, 2022
Though I liked the descriptions of the actions around the Primosole Bridge, which describes the actions vividly, this was only covered in the latter half of the book. What is at the beginning of this book is an overly detailed description of past Para actions and equipment used by the men from both sides, and there is also too much filler in between everything. Though the title is also about the first bridge too far before the bridge too far at Arnhem more than a year later by the same units, there are only some connections to be made as the scales and success of the two differ too much in my opinion. Still a decent read on the subject matter of airborne operations during the Sicily campaign.
July 21, 2021
An overview 1 Para Brigade's combat drop on Sicily, and the parallels with events primarily occurring the following autumn, but also (with a little reading between the lines) foretelling some of the issues facing U.S. airborne in Normandy.
The examination of the operation is detailed, but not so densely written as to interrupt the flow of the narrative and covers in brief the early airborne operations of Operation Husky before moving specifically to cover Operation Fustian, the capture and securing of the Primasole Bridge. Here the operation plan is covered comprehensively (possibly more comprehensively than any other I've read) before the story of the party bungled paratroop drop and the opposed glider landings are detailed.
From this point onward you're left front and centre of an epic clash between British and German paratroops:
While the book is generally very well written, certainly doesn't drag it's feet and carries the narrative along, there is the occasional point of hammering home the authors point with the phrase "this shows how..." (irritating only because it reminded me of my son's history homework). Nonetheless, even though I wasn't entirely convinced by the link to Arnhem (although I could pick out some, maybe they're not the ones I was supposed to), it's still an engrossing look at a major airborne operation and an impressive debut. Highly recommended.
The examination of the operation is detailed, but not so densely written as to interrupt the flow of the narrative and covers in brief the early airborne operations of Operation Husky before moving specifically to cover Operation Fustian, the capture and securing of the Primasole Bridge. Here the operation plan is covered comprehensively (possibly more comprehensively than any other I've read) before the story of the party bungled paratroop drop and the opposed glider landings are detailed.
From this point onward you're left front and centre of an epic clash between British and German paratroops:
Some men even bumped into their Fallschirmjaeger opponents in the gloom. One paratrooper assembling his machine gun from a container was approached by a grey-smocked figure who asked him in German: ‘‘Have you seen my Schmeisser?’ He said ‘Nein’ and then shot him’.While this element is sometimes a little overdone it thankfully never quite outstays it's welcome, and the ongoing sense of dwindling ammunition in the face of strengthening opposition is deftly handled and adds to the appreciation of the tension of the event. The book is rounded off with the travails off the Durham Light Infantry in securing the bridge, forging a bridgehead and finally putting the operation into context in the race to Messina.
While the book is generally very well written, certainly doesn't drag it's feet and carries the narrative along, there is the occasional point of hammering home the authors point with the phrase "this shows how..." (irritating only because it reminded me of my son's history homework). Nonetheless, even though I wasn't entirely convinced by the link to Arnhem (although I could pick out some, maybe they're not the ones I was supposed to), it's still an engrossing look at a major airborne operation and an impressive debut. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2023
An interesting book, that told the tale of the capture and subsequent loss of the Primosole Bridge during Op Husky from the Parachute Brigade perspective.
However, if I was to be given £5 for each time the word ‘elite’ was scattered throughout the text I could have retired long ago. An affectation that did much ro spoil the book.
His writing lacks depth and too much of the construct is on dits and an attempt to link it with his own service in the Parachute Regiment. As a previous reviewer notes, it is packed with filling to make it book size and there is frequent repetition.
He does not attempt too much evaluation or hypothecating on what the parachute Regiment may have, or may not, learned before the failed operation of Op MARKET GARDEN.
Although I enjoyed reading the book I would not rate it as a classic, nor add it to a must read list of books for the Sicilian campaign.
However, if I was to be given £5 for each time the word ‘elite’ was scattered throughout the text I could have retired long ago. An affectation that did much ro spoil the book.
His writing lacks depth and too much of the construct is on dits and an attempt to link it with his own service in the Parachute Regiment. As a previous reviewer notes, it is packed with filling to make it book size and there is frequent repetition.
He does not attempt too much evaluation or hypothecating on what the parachute Regiment may have, or may not, learned before the failed operation of Op MARKET GARDEN.
Although I enjoyed reading the book I would not rate it as a classic, nor add it to a must read list of books for the Sicilian campaign.
September 10, 2023
An excellent account of the battle and the author uses his previous life as a paratrooper to add some additional context. Detailed without being too dry, he captures the horror of war and the bravery of those involved on both sides.
June 11, 2024
A great historical analysis and from an ex paratrooper who gives more context than most.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews