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XXX Corps

Things are not really going well with the ground troops on the first day of Market Garden

in September 17

While destroyed Sherman tanks stand along the side of the road, XXX Corps advances towards Valkenswaard on Sunday, September 17.

On Tuesday afternoon, September 19, around two o’clock in Arnhem, drive over the Rhine bridge to relieve the troops of the British 1st Airborne Division. That was the goal of the ground forces of the British XXX Corps under General Harrocks. At the start of Operation Market Garden, XXX Corps was stationed near the Belgian-Dutch…

The Waal Bridge in Nijmegen is still firmly in German hands on September 18

in Nijmegen/September 18

Dead American paratroopers on Keizer Karelplein in Nijmegen. (Photo: Gelders Archives.)

The British at Arnhem were not the only airborne troops who encountered problems after the landings. The American paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division who had landed near Groesbeek also did not reach the objectives they were supposed to achieve on September 17 . Capturing the Waal Bridge was not at the top of the…

The ground troops liberate Eindhoven and advance north, but with more than 24 hours’ delay

in September 18

Allied vehicles make their way through the crowds in Eindhoven.

The leading ground troops of XXX Corps, led by British General Horrocks, had not advanced beyond Valkenswaard on Sunday, September 17. The Germans had fought back more fiercely than the British had anticipated. The advance north was therefore slow. The bridge at Son, between Eindhoven and Grave, had been blown up the day before before…

September 19: the Allies make no progress in Nijmegen

in Nijmegen/September 19

American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division on the Oranjesingel in Nijmegen.

Immediately after the Allied airborne landings on September 17 to capture the bridges over the Dutch rivers, the Germans decided to place the focus of their defense at Nijmegen. Here, at the bridges over the Waal, the advance of the ‘Anglo-American enemy’ would be reversed. The Germans could not use the bridge over the Rhine…

The heroic crossing of the Waal river

in Nijmegen/September 20

American paratroopers climb over the dike to cross the Waal with their boats.

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…

The Americans manage to capture the Waal Bridge on Wednesday evening, September 20

in Nijmegen/September 20

Nijmegen and Grave 17 - 20 September 1944: The bridge at Nijmegen after it had been captured by the 82nd (US) Airborne Division. A dead German SS officer lies where he fell during the attack. EA 38567 Part of AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION

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…

Myth: Deelen Air Base played no role in the plans for Market Garden

in Arnhem/Myths

The badly damaged "Fliegerhorst Deelen" after the Allied bombing in 1944. (Photo: Gelders Archive.)

There are still many myths circulating about the Battle of Arnhem for so many decades afterwards. One of those myths is that the plans for Operation Market Garden had no role whatsoever for the German airbase Deelen, just north of Arnhem. Fliegerhorst Deelen was built by the Germans in 1940 as part of Germany’s air…

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