Operation Market Garden

It was the operation that would hopefully end the war by Christmas. One last push when the enemy were on the back foot and in disarray and the prize, Berlin, it was hoped would be in the grip of the Allies.

The brainchild of the usually methodical General Montgomery, the planning of Market Garden was vast and complex. It would involve three airborne divisions, two American divisions, the 101^st and 82^nd respectively both of whom had previous combat experience and the British 1^st Airborne Division who had yet to fight in entirety as a division.

On paper, the job of the airborne troops seems simple. Namely, to capture a total of 37 bridges and river crossings from the Dutch Belgian border to the town of Arnhem. Once these bridges had been captured ground troops, spear-headed by XXX Corps would move northwards from the Dutch Belgian border, until finally reaching Arnhem and its bridge over the Lower Rhine some 64 miles northwards. Crossing it would open the gateway to break out.

From Arnhem XXX Corps were expected to head north to the Zuiderzee – nowadays called the Ijsselmeer – and cut off enemy troops in the west of the Netherlands. At the same time an eastward thrust would see the allies entering the industrial heartland of Germany, the Ruhr and open tank country. A final push to Berlin was all that would be needed to win the war.

Supply issues and bored airborne troops

Since the break out from Normandy in July the allies would achieve success after success. The enemy, it would seem, was in disarray.

This success however, was a double edged sword. As the allies advanced rapidly through North West Europe their supply lines became over extended. Men, vehicles, material and even mapping was struggling to keep up with the ever moving spearhead. The French and Belgian populations would witness an enemy falling back to a point that it would appear the enemy had virtually capitulated.

However, as the allies advanced rapidly and the enemy troops fell back in disarray, this retreat began to slow down. Slowly and surely the enemy were nearing their own lines of supply and began to start to re-group and reorganise.

Back in England, no less than sixteen operations had been planned or for an airborne lift to assist the ground troops in their dash northwards. Troops became frustrated with the waiting and with the German Army seemingly broken, Operation Market Garden was considered by many their last chance to be in on the win. Everyone wanted to be part of this airborne armada, the largest to date.

Top level commanders poured over maps, analysed daily intelligence reports and worked non-stop to ensure that everything was in place in the short space of time available to them.

Paratroopers of 82nd Airborne Division prepare for their combat jump

Market Garden - the largest airborne operation in history!

Market Garden, the largest airborne operation in history, starts!

Sunday, 17 September 1944

Sunday 17 September 1944 dawned as a sublime late summer/early Autumn day. In the Netherlands the Dutch citizens of Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Arnhem and the peripheral villages and towns, went to church, had breakfast and enjoyed this late summer day.

In England troops breakfasted, checked their kit, and boarded transport to their respective airfields fully expecting to be stood down at the last minute. On the Dutch Belgian border, vehicles were checked, and for XXX Corps the waiting began.

At approximately 12.30 aircraft appeared over the areas of Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem. Upturned Dutch faces turned to the sky and as if angels were dropping parachutes began to unfurl as troops exited from their aircraft. At the start line on the Dutch Belgian border, engines were engaged and troops mounted their respective vehicles. Armour began to roll forward.

Operation Market Garden was on!!