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1 of 20:
Today we’ve described the airborne insertion of Market Garden from the perspective of the American and British paratroopers. #MarketGarden76 #OTD
Today we’ve described the airborne insertion of Market Garden from the perspective of the American and British paratroopers. #MarketGarden76 #OTD
2 of 20:
But what of the view from the ground that Sunday afternoon?
But what of the view from the ground that Sunday afternoon?
3 of 20:
What was it like seeing this majestic airborne force overhead, coming in from the heavens above? What must it have been like to see a surprise, monstrous airborne assault unfurl in clear daylight?
What was it like seeing this majestic airborne force overhead, coming in from the heavens above? What must it have been like to see a surprise, monstrous airborne assault unfurl in clear daylight?
4 of 20:
For the German Soldiers and the occupying Dutch, how was the darkening of the skies by thousands and thousands of planes, then parachutes and gliders, perceived?
For the German Soldiers and the occupying Dutch, how was the darkening of the skies by thousands and thousands of planes, then parachutes and gliders, perceived?
5 of 20:
Those looking up, even the Panzer forces, were filled with a sense of wonder.
Those looking up, even the Panzer forces, were filled with a sense of wonder.
6 of 20:
At approximately 1:30 PM local time, it was clear to all in Arnhem, Nijmegen, and Veghel what was afoot.
At approximately 1:30 PM local time, it was clear to all in Arnhem, Nijmegen, and Veghel what was afoot.
7 of 20:
“In those first few minutes, it looked as if the downcoming masses would suffocate every single life on the ground,” wrote German war correspondent Erwin Kirchhof.
“In those first few minutes, it looked as if the downcoming masses would suffocate every single life on the ground,” wrote German war correspondent Erwin Kirchhof.
8 of 20:
General Kurt Student, commander of the 1st Parachute Army and the founder of the Nazi parachute forces, was in his study in southern Holland when he heard the roar of airplanes.
General Kurt Student, commander of the 1st Parachute Army and the founder of the Nazi parachute forces, was in his study in southern Holland when he heard the roar of airplanes.
9 of 20:
He moved to his balcony to see the greatest arrangement of paratroop power he could have imagined. Kurt was impressed, so much so that he was unable to immediately process the danger posed or the fight ahead.
He moved to his balcony to see the greatest arrangement of paratroop power he could have imagined. Kurt was impressed, so much so that he was unable to immediately process the danger posed or the fight ahead.
10 of 20:
“I wish I had ever such powerful means at my disposal,” Kurt said to himself. For dramatic effect, this understated line is delivered by General der Waffen-SS Wilhelm Bittrich in the film “A Bridge Too Far,” but it actually belonged to Kurt Student.
“I wish I had ever such powerful means at my disposal,” Kurt said to himself. For dramatic effect, this understated line is delivered by General der Waffen-SS Wilhelm Bittrich in the film “A Bridge Too Far,” but it actually belonged to Kurt Student.
11 of 20:
“I wish I had ever such powerful means at my disposal.” I always think of this line as a mark of awed appreciation for an enemy, akin to the response by Jack Nicholson’s Joker in the 1989 “Batman” after the Dark Knight creates a zipline to rescue Vicki Vale.
“I wish I had ever such powerful means at my disposal.” I always think of this line as a mark of awed appreciation for an enemy, akin to the response by Jack Nicholson’s Joker in the 1989 “Batman” after the Dark Knight creates a zipline to rescue Vicki Vale.
12 of 20:
Some of the German forces reacted quickly, blasting away at the planes and then at the parachute troops in their descent. With planes hit, many paratroopers were forced to exit early, some as low as 300 feet above ground.
Some of the German forces reacted quickly, blasting away at the planes and then at the parachute troops in their descent. With planes hit, many paratroopers were forced to exit early, some as low as 300 feet above ground.
13 of 20:
For the Dutch residents observing, praying for liberation, the scene quickly turned from awe to horror. When they first heard, then saw the vast armada overhead, most Dutch villagers began a celebration.
For the Dutch residents observing, praying for liberation, the scene quickly turned from awe to horror. When they first heard, then saw the vast armada overhead, most Dutch villagers began a celebration.
14 of 20:
Children and adults began shrieking with joy, leaping in the air, cheering, and waving white sheets. From the sky had emerged their saviors. Angels from above.
Children and adults began shrieking with joy, leaping in the air, cheering, and waving white sheets. From the sky had emerged their saviors. Angels from above.
15 of 20:
But, then, suddenly, they saw burning planes coming down, wings falling off cargo aircraft, parachutes on fire, gliders colliding with the earth, dead paratroopers descending motionlessly in full chutes.
But, then, suddenly, they saw burning planes coming down, wings falling off cargo aircraft, parachutes on fire, gliders colliding with the earth, dead paratroopers descending motionlessly in full chutes.
16 of 20:
Some Dutch residents immediately moved to injured Paratroopers who, attempting to escape a burning plane, landed well short of their intended drop zone.
Some Dutch residents immediately moved to injured Paratroopers who, attempting to escape a burning plane, landed well short of their intended drop zone.
17 of 20:
Back to Kurt Student: within two hours of observing the flight overhead, he received an unexpected intelligence windfall.
Back to Kurt Student: within two hours of observing the flight overhead, he received an unexpected intelligence windfall.
18 of 20:
The entire “Market” portion of the plan - drop zones, air corridor, objectives, organizational structure, all of it - was found by a Panzer trooper in the wreckage of a glider. Kurt was amazed that the Allies could be so relaxed with their operational security.
The entire “Market” portion of the plan - drop zones, air corridor, objectives, organizational structure, all of it - was found by a Panzer trooper in the wreckage of a glider. Kurt was amazed that the Allies could be so relaxed with their operational security.
19 of 20:
The plans were so detailed that some members of Kurt's staff tried to convince him they were a ruse. They were not. Kurt’s men went about the laborious business of translating the plans for the rest of the German forces in the area.
The plans were so detailed that some members of Kurt's staff tried to convince him they were a ruse. They were not. Kurt’s men went about the laborious business of translating the plans for the rest of the German forces in the area.
Final:
The effort to transmit those plans would take the German forces the rest of the evening. By that time, they were in a fight.
The effort to transmit those plans would take the German forces the rest of the evening. By that time, they were in a fight.
