In fact, it was a case of three bridges too far. Not only were the British Airborne troops asked to capture the road bridge over at Arnhem, but also a railway bridge and pontoon bridge. The former was blown up as paratroopers ventured onto it, while the latter had been dismantled. Among them were Germans and Austrians who had assumed fake British identities in order to fight the Nazis. They were Jewish refugees who had fled persecution in their homelands and were determined to exact payback on behalf of loved ones and families who had suffered so much under Adolf Hitler.
They were very fierce soldiers and, despite the fact they would probably be shot as traitors if taken prisoner, they made no secret of their identities, shouting insults at their foes in German.
On 18 September, when the second lift of 1 st Airborne Division troops was going DZs and LZs beyond Arnhem — leaping from their Dakota troop transports or coming to earth in gliders — they were shot at by Dutch soldiers.
No sooner had some British soldiers survived the experience of being shot at by the Dutch SS near Arnhem than they were being embraced and kissed by overjoyed locals.
The civilians came out to the DZs and LZs to greet the British soldiers with water and wine, to celebrate liberation, which sadly proved short lived.
The majority of Dutch civilians of course hated the Nazis and yearned to be free of a brutal occupation after more than four years of oppression. They greeted the arrival of British troops with great joy, but, in the subsequent battle, thousands of them were trapped in the cellars of their homes in Arnhem town and neighbouring Oosterbeek. As the Airborne soldiers shot at the enemy from rooms in houses on once-pleasant and pristine streets, beneath their feet civilians sheltered in the cellars and miserably awaited their fate.
Enduring terrible conditions for days — going short of water and food, their homes destroyed above them as exploding artillery shells, machine gun fire and grenades roared all around — they were often terrified. Hundreds of civilians were killed during the fighting, but the astonishing thing is that thousands of those who took refuge in cellars survived. Click here to find out more and to buy tickets. On emerging from the cellars, they were told by the Germans to leave and not come back: anyone who did not evacuate themselves from Oosterbeek and Arnhem would be shot.
Despite the British bringing ruin to their homes, the Dutch people to this day salute the sacrifice of the Airborne soldiers who tried and failed to lift the yoke of fascist oppression.
Suffering alongside the humans as the battle raged in the streets, fields, woods and gardens were animals — some of which fought back. One British soldier who threw himself into a slit trench to escape death under German bombardment found he was sharing it with a fierce little squirrel. It proceeded to attack him and had very sharp teeth.
This Operation, which led to the end of the War, had only been made possible through the capture of Nijmegen and the surrounding area. The survivors of the 1st Airborne Division were immediately transported to Nijmegen, where they were fed, given clean clothes, and allowed their first real chance to sleep in nine days.
They were all flown home, via Brussels, to a heroes' welcome on the 29th September They were soon followed by the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade Group, but the 82nd and st Airborne Divisions, who were to have been withdrawn from the battlefield at the earliest opportunity, instead remained in the area until mid to late November, to help shore up the 2nd Army's position.
The 1st Airborne Division was in an exceptionally poor state. In short, Urquhart's fine Division had been all but destroyed, and he was struggling to think of a reason to justify their sacrifice. The Division was reduced to two Brigades with the disbandment of the 4th Parachute Brigade, its remnants being distributed amongst the battalions of the 1st Parachute Brigade.
Over the coming months, drafts of reinforcements arrived to swell the ranks, yet the Division was never able to rebuild itself to a state approaching full strength before it too was disbanded in August The 1st Polish Parachute Brigade Group had performed as well as circumstances had allowed them in Operation Market Garden, but in its aftermath the British commanders conspired to make them a scapegoat for the failure.
Montgomery wrote to the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, reporting " Polish Para Brigade fought very badly and the men showed no keenness to fight if it meant risking their own lives.
Newspaper article about 'Dickie' Lonsdale on 40th anniversary of Arnhem, Account of how Gelderland underground forces helped Paras through German lines. Personal account of Sgt. Private Neads' personal account of Operation Market Garden including capture.
Leaflet dropped by Germans to British in hiding at Arnhem, October Records of Service and Medical discharge form. Spr Alan W Gauntlet's position in the Oosterbeek perimeter.
If you are currently a ParaData member please login. If you are not currently a ParaData member but wish to get involved please register. Profits from all sales made through our shop go directly to Support Our Paras , so every purchase you make with us will directly benefit The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces. Skip to main content. Battle Honour conferred: Arnhem Related articles. Personal Accounts of the Battle of Arnhem Please click on a name in the list below to view their personal account.
The Chaplains at Arnhem On 29 September the Church Times wrote of the sorrow and disappointment of the nation on hearing of the withdrawal of Airborne Forces from Arnhem. Other Arnhem articles Please click on a link below for further information. Units Engaged 1st Parachute Battalion. Glider Pilot Regiment. Arnhem Cathedral destroyed after heavy shelling. Enlarge Details. Four paratroopers amid debris in Oosterbeek.
Enlarge Enlarge Details. Three aircraft dropping containers for re-supply at Arnhem. Waco glider on landing on drop zone, Arnhem 1 Image Buy Prints. A Dutch nurse giving first aid to a wounded paratrooper.
Polish paratroops in Holland at a field dressing station. Aerial view of Arnhem Bridge showing British positions. Aerial view of Arnhem destroyed by the battle. Two paratroopers with Sten guns enter a destroyed school. Polish paratroopers being interrogated by Germans. Arnhem Commemoration, 's 1 Image Buy Prints.
Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery historic images 6 Images. Close-up of refurbished Double Hills Memorial 1 Image. Red Devils jumping onto Memorial at Oosterbeek during 65th commemorations 1 Image. Recent view of the Apeldoorn 'Airborne Hospital' barracks 1 Image. Clogs presented post war to Francis McCormick from the family he sheltered with in Arnhem, 1 Image.
Headstone for Ellis Clarke at Oosterbeek 1 Image. Eric H Richardson 1 Image. Headstone for Eric H Richardson 1 Image. Sgt A Harris head stone 1 Image. Enlarge Enlarge Enlarge Details. William Gordon in Arnhem 3 Images.
Dutch bank note signed by Spr. GW Gauntlet. Oosterbeek Cem. Airborne prisoners after their capture at Arnhem Bridge, September 1 Image. Bodies of men from 10th Parachute Battalion ambushed at the 6km marker to Arnhem 1 Image. Sgt Manser shortly after his capture at Arnhem. Major John Timothy shortly after being taken prisoner of war, 19 September 1 Image. A soldier pauses by the temporary graves of the men killed at the 6km marker near Arnhem, April 1 Image.
Metal ticket for Theirs is the Glory premiere 1 Image. Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery, April 3 Images. Arnhem Police Station s 1 Image. Mark Leaver beside the tree in the grounds of Oosterbeek Churchyard, 1 Image. The escape tunnel near the Wolheze level crossing, Close-up of the Bronze Memorial at Arnhem Bridge, Aerial photo of Arnhem Bridge taken on September 6th Aerial view of Oosterbeek.
October 1 Image Buy Prints. Map showing Arnhem dropping zones. Map showing Arnhem area. Brief account of 10th Parachute Battalion at Arnhem. Op Market report 10 January 49 Images. HF Bear Report. Enlarge Enlarge Enlarge Enlarge Details. Personal copy of the account of 2nd Parachute Battalion at Arnhem 4 Items. Story of 1st Parachute Brigade at Arnhem. German war reporter's account of the battle of Arnhem.
Report on shooting of British PoWs in Brummen. Account of 2nd South Staffs at Arnhem. Action at Arnhem — story of the operation. Glider Pilot Regiment report on Operation Market air and military by commander glider pilots 13 Items. Report on operations of 1st Airborne Division in Arnhem. Final selection group 'P' Coy. Holding out as long as they could, waiting for reinforcements, they were compelled to surrender.
Unfortunately, a similar drop of equipment was delayed, and there were errors in locating the proper drop location and bad intelligence on German troop strength. Added to this, bad weather and communication confused the coordination of the Allied troops on the ground. The Germans quickly destroyed the railroad bridge and took control of the southern end of the road bridge.
The Allies struggled to control the northern end of the road bridge, but soon lost it to the superior German forces. The only thing left was retreat-back behind Allied lines. But few made it: Of more than 10, British and Polish troops engaged at Arnhem , only 2, escaped. Claims were made after the fact that a Dutch Resistance fighter, Christiaan Lindemans, betrayed the Allies, which would explain why the Germans were arrayed in such numbers at such strategic points.
Here's What Went Wrong. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! On December 13, , Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World. On March 23, , Lucid transferred to Mir from the same space shuttle for a planned five-month stay.
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