September 17, 1944 — 77 years ago, Friday — Allied paratroopers and tankers initiated Operation Market-Garden in the Netherlands during World War II. Operation Market-Garden was a two-part operation designed to seize a bridgehead over the Rhine River, enable the Allies to attack across northern Germany, and end the war in Europe quickly. Market was the airborne portion of the operation which had British paratroopers from the 1st Airborne Division jumping near Arnhem to seize bridges, American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division parachuting to seize bridges near Nijmegen, and paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division jumping to seize bridges at Son and Eindhoven. Garden was the ground portion of the operation which called for the tanks and infantry of the British XXX Corps to attack northward along a narrow road network, link up with each group of paratroopers, and eventually seize the bridgehead across the Rhine River. Stiff German resistance and unexpected German units increased the challenges of an already complex operation. Unfortunately, the XXX Corps was unable to fight its way to Arnhem, the British paratroopers were forced to abandon the city, and the operation ended inconclusively.

As we approached the anniversary of the battle, I watched a movie I had not seen before — Theirs Is the Glory (available on Amazon Prime and YouTube). The movie is a 1946 UK “docu-drama” about the British 1st Airborne Division's fight at Oosterbeek and Arnhem during Market-Garden. It doesn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes ranking, but I’d give it an 85%. In addition to using actual footage from the battle, the movie used 200 veterans of the 1st Airborne Division on location in the war ravaged streets of the Netherlands.

The movie’s strengths is its realism. Theirs Is the Glory was directed by Brian Hurst, a World War I Gallipoli veteran. The script was refined by Terence Young who served as a tank commander with the XXX Corps. Interestingly, Young went on to direct three of the early James Bond films. The veterans who star in the film actively collaborated on the script and perform an actual parachute jump. The Hotel Hartenstein, the 1st British Airborne Division’s headquarters during the battle and now a superb museum, plays a central role. For my tanker friends out there, the movie also includes a Tiger Tank (which was owned by the British Army and was shot in England) and Panther tanks (owned by the French Army and used on the streets of Arnhem in the filming).

All-in-all, the movie added to my understanding of Operation Market-Garden, especially the 1st Airborne Division’s role.

Gritty Organization

The 1st British Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden were gritty organizations as they fought outnumbered and surrounded in Arnhem. How did they become gritty organizations? I find that organizational grit is grown through:

• Providing the team a purpose. See Post #104 to develop or refine your organizational purpose.

• Providing the group goal and a plan of how to get there. See Post #105 and #106 for some ideas on planning.

• Providing the organization a scoreboard that tracks the progress

• Modeling and growing an organizational culture that values daily small wins (“every day a little better”), self-discipline, and resiliency. For more on growing your gritty culture see Post #107.

• Developing trust in the team that is grown through shared experiences and hardships. See Post #108 for more on team building.

The most important, but often the hidden element, behind the growth of organizational grit is leadership. Leaders, like Roy Urquhart and John Frost, help inculcate grit in their organizations. Throughout the process, leaders in these organizations demonstrated grit and led by example, using their position to instill determination, energy, and leadership within each of their followers on an individual basis.

If you’d like to learn more ideas about how to develop your team’s grit, my book Grow Your Grit: Overcome Obstacles, Thrive, and Accomplish Your Goals is available to order via Amazon here. If you want a signed copy send me an email.

Conclusion

Use the efforts of the British airborne in Operation Market Garden 77 years ago to inspire you to go on the offensive in 2021 and grow your organization’s grit.