[Von Paulus]

Operation Market Garden
Holland, September 1944

Overview: After much argument, General Eisenhower was at last persuaded to back Montgomery's bold and imaginative plan for an armoured and airborne thrust across Holland to outflank the German defences and capture strategic bridges across the lower Rhine. But 'Market Garden' was not given all possible support, and a crucial failure at Arnhem nullified the other considerable successes. Lack of transport aircraft meant that the British paratroops were dropped piecemeal - in the midst of far stronger German forces than had been anticipated. Such troops as reached the Vital Rhine bridge were wiped out, and their sacrifice marked the end of any hopes of ending the war during 1944.

1944- September 17: Operation Market Garden begins with te British 1st Airborne Division landing near Arnhem; the US 101st Airborne Division near Eindhoven;the 82nd near Grave and Nijmegen; and the British 30th Corps advancing north from the Dutch border. The 82nd lands without difficulty and captures the Maas and Maas-Waal canal bridges, but meets heavy resistance at Nijmegen. The 101st also captures its bridges, but the British paratroops find their way to Arnhem blocked by strong German forces, and only one batallion manages to reach the bridge, where it is cut off.



September 18: A German counterattack forestalls an American attempt to capture the bridge at Nijmegen (which will feature in the upcoming ps2 game, MoH:Frontline).



The Germans mount heavy attacks on the Arnhem DZ (Drop Zone) to try and prevent reinforcements from landing.



September 19: The leading troops of British 30th Corps reach the paratroops at Nijmegen. At Arnhem, all attempts to break through to the troops at the bridge fail.



September 20: The Bridge at Nijmegen is captured in a combined assault by by the US 82nd Airborne Division and the British 30th Corps.



September 21: At Arnhem, the British troops at the bridge are overwhelmed: the remainder form a defensive perimeter on the nort-eastern bank of the Neder Rijn to the west of Oosterbeek.



September 22: The advance of 30th Corps is slowed down by German Resistance. The Polish Brigade begins to land south of the river.

September 23:Attempts by the Poles and advance troops of 30th Corps to cross the river are driven back.

September 25: Evacuation of the surviving paratroops begin.



-Thankyou for readin'

Tommorow: The V2/A4 Rocket Program...