Patrick has 150 articles published.
On Wednesday evening, September 20, the British soldiers had to give up their position at the Rhine Bridge in Arnhem. About 130 British tried to break out via the Walburgis Church. Despite their relatively light armament, the British paratroopers defending the north side of the Rhine Bridge proved to be able to withstand the attacks…
The Americans call it ‘The Crossing’ for short. On Wednesday, September 20, the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion of the 504th Infantry Regiment crossed the Waal in 26 canvas boats to attack the Waal Bridge near Nijmegen from the north side. General Jim Gavin of the 82nd Airborne Division had concluded the day before that…
In 26 canvas boats, 260 soldiers of the 504th Parachute Regiment crossed the Waal on Wednesday afternoon, September 20. Despite a smoke screen and covering fire from tanks and machine guns, there were many casualties. A total of 48 people were killed and many dozens were injured during the crossing. Major Julian Cook had fewer…
After the Waal Bridge in nijmegen had been captured, the tanks of XXX Corps advanced further north on Thursday, September 21, towards the besieged British airborne troops near Arnhem. The Allies did not get very far. The Germans stopped the advance after just a few kilometers. Nowadays the A325 runs between Nijmegen and Arnhem. In…
During the first days of Operation Market Garden, the British at Arnhem were unable to make contact with the headquarters in Nijmegen. The British had the wrong radios with them, which made connections difficult. On Thursday morning, September 21, one of the British radio operators finally managed to make contact with the artillery of the…
On Wednesday, September 20, the Germans, supported by tanks and mechanical artillery, had already attempted to attack the British via the Benedendorpseweg in Oosterbeek in order to block access to the Rhine. The attack was repulsed and the Germans lost many tanks and equipment. On Thursday, September 21, the Germans attacked the British perimeter in…
The 10th Battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Smyth, had suffered very heavy losses in the fighting to reach the Rhine Bridge. Almost all soldiers of the 10th Battalion were killed, wounded or captured. By late afternoon on Tuesday, September 19, Colonel Smyth had only 60 soldiers left. In Oosterbeek he and the remainder of…
Hotel Dreyeroord, on the north side of the British perimeter, was one of four places where the Germans attacked the British positions on Thursday, September 21. The area at the northern end of the perimeter was defended by troops of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, or KOSB. There had been fighting all day over Hotel…
They had had to wait for days until the weather in England was good enough to take off and on Thursday, September 21, the time had finally come: the 1st Polish Airborne Brigade would land near Arnhem. Two days later than planned. On Tuesday, September 19, the jeeps and anti-tank guns had landed as planned.…
The British had retreated to a defensive perimeter at Oosterbeek after failing to reach the Rhine Bridge at Arnhem. Only when it was too late did the paratroopers realize the importance of the Driel ferry near the Westerbouwing. The sector near the Westerbouwing on the west side of the perimeter was defended by the Border…
