 Contemporary observers and historians generally agree that Operation Varsity was successful . General Eisenhower called it " the most successful airborne operation carried out to date " , and an observer later wrote that the operation showed " the highest state of development attained by troop @-@ carrier and airborne units " . In the official summary of the operation , Major General Ridgway wrote that the operation had been flawless , and that the two airborne divisions involved had destroyed enemy defences that might otherwise have taken days to reduce , ensuring the operation was successful . 
