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Myth: “The Germans had dozens of tanks in Arnhem”

in Myths
Broken German column near Falaise.

There are still many myths circulating about the Battle of Arnhem. One of those myths is that on the first day Operation Market Garden, the Germans had dozens of tanks near Arnhem. The lightly armed British troops were no match for that. On Sunday September 17 1944, the first day of Operation Market Garden, two…

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The origin of the Pegasus logo of the 1st Airborne Division

in What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem

The British 1st Airborne Division that was dropped during Operation Market Garden in Arnhem and surroundings, had the winged horse Pegasus as its logo. The soldiers of the 1st British Airborne Division were identified by the logo of the light blue Pegasus on a chestnut-red ‘maroon’ background on their uniform. In addition, the soldiers of…

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Not the Hartenstein hotel, but Musis Sacrum was intended to be the British headquarters

in Arnhem/General information/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem
During the Second World War, Musis Sacrum, located in the city center, was in use as a 'Wehrmachtheim' for the Germans stationed in Arnhem.

According to the. original plans for Operation Market Garden, the 1st British Airborne Division was to occupy all of Arnhem before being relieved by the Allied ground forces. The Airborne Division’s headquarters would be located in concert hall Musis Sacrum. Musis was chosen because it was close to the Rhine Bridge and because it was…

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Airborne landings were always unsuccessful

in Arnhem/Before the battle/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem
British paratroopers land at Renkum, 10 miles west of Arnhem, on September 17, 1944.

When you look at the history of airborne landings during World War II, the main conclusion is that air landings were unsuccessful even in the years before the Battle of Arnhem. In September 1944, 12,000 British and Polish paratroopers landed west of Arnhem to secure bridges across the Rhine. At the same time, American paratroopers…

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The Airborne monument in Arnhem is actually a temporary monument

in Arnhem/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem
The airborne monument at the unveiling in 1945. In the background a destroyed city center with the Walburgiskerk (right) and the remains of the Eusebius church (left).

Few people know it, but the Airborne monument near the Rhine Bridge in Arnhem is actually a temporary monument. The final monument was to be placed on the main square in the city center. This monument was designed and realized, but it was never used as the ‘official’ Airborne Monument. What happened: After the liberation…

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The statement “a bridge too far” was made before the Battle of Arnhem

in General information/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem
Three German soldiers proudly pose with a captured Jeep and two British prisoners of war at Musis Sacrum, in the center of Arnhem. (Photo: Bundesarchiv.)

Whoever says “Battle of Arnhem” says “a bridge too far”. The phrase is the title of the book that Cornelis Ryan wrote in 1974 about Operation Market Garden, and it is also the title of the film made by Richard Attenborough in 1977 in response to the book. Browning Many people think that the expression…

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John Frost was a British war hero before the Battle of Arnhem

in Before the battle/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem
John Frost (right) talks with Lt. Col. Johnny Goschen on board the HMS Prince Albert during the retreat of the Bruneval Raid. (Photo: Imperial War Museum.)

John Frost’s name is forever associated with the Battle of Arnhem and the heroic battle that Colonel Frost’s men fought at the Rhine Bridge. For three days, the British paratroopers led by Frost fought a bitter fight against a large force of German SS-soldiers. Only when they ran out of ammunition on the evening of…

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William of Orange played a heroic role during the battle

in Arnhem/General information

To immediately clear up any misunderstanding. This story is about a pigeon. But the story of “William of Orange” is special and however far-fetched the facts may sound in this article: the story is completely true. Radios An important factor in the failure of the Battle of Arnhem stems from the fact that the British…

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The aim of the British was not the bridge, but the whole city of Arnhem

in Arnhem/Before the battle/General information/What you didn't know about the Battle of Arnhem

The Battle of Arnhem was part of the large allied operation Market Garden. Bridges in the Netherlands had to be secured via airborne landings. Allied ground troops would then drive via a corridor from Eindhoven to Arnhem. After that, the Allies could easily enter Germany from Arnhem, without having to fight the feared German Siegfried…

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