The Battle of Overloon – The American attack on Overloon

Description

Between September 30 and October 18, 1944, a heavy battle was fought in the Overloon – Venray area. This battle, a direct result of Operation Market Garden, went down in history as one of the heaviest battles on Dutch soil. Initially, the US 7th Armored Division was brought into the ara to take over from the British and carry out the attack.

The assignment was estimated to be an easy one and the Americans expected to be in Venlo – at a 20 miles distance – within two days and from there push on to Cologne. In the event, seven days of heavy fighting only took the Americans one to two kilometers from their start line. Overloon remained in German hands, as did Venray. Venlo and certainly Cologne remained well out of reach of the Allies.