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Original footage of the 101st Airborne Division dropping into The Netherlands for Operation Market Garden, which began on Sep 17, 1944, and was a collaboration of the Allied Powers to try and gain a foothold into Germany & end the war quicker.
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It was the largest airborne operation of WW2 to date. The objective was to seize 9 strategic bridges along the route from Eindhoven to Arnhem (undertaken by the airborne assault "Market") thus allowing the advance of the ground forces (Garden) of the British 2nd Army
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The ground force would move north along Highway 69, aka "Hell's Highway", a single road through flat, soft terrain.
The British 1st Airborne Div would drop at the far northern end of the proposed line of advance at Arnhem.
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The British 1st Airborne Div would drop at the far northern end of the proposed line of advance at Arnhem.
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The U.S 82nd Airborne Div would take and hold Nijmegen. The 101st Airborne would drop north of Eindhoven, with the objective of capturing the city & then moving north to connect with the 82nd and so secure the southern end of the advance.
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The Polish 1st Indep. Parachute Brigade would also drop in the following days by glider & parachute, and although suffering heavy losses would divert over 2,500 German troops away from the Allied advance.
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Airborne troops dropped on a clear, sunny day. On the 1st drop almost all U.S troops landed in the planned drop zones, with losses due to anti-aircraft fire reported as light.
Pictured is the Morning Report of the 506th PIR, who dropped on DZ C
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Pictured is the Morning Report of the 506th PIR, who dropped on DZ C
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But problems had already begun for the British, as only half the Division arrived with the 1st lift & the 2nd half didn't arrive until the next day. This meant 9th SS Panzer Div was able to send a recon battalion across the bridge at Arnhem & on to Nijmegan.
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Problems continued down the route as German counterattacks began & key bridges were won, lost, and fought over again.
Key to the advance of the Allies were the Dutch Resistance who provided vital info on location, strength, and number of the enemy.
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Key to the advance of the Allies were the Dutch Resistance who provided vital info on location, strength, and number of the enemy.
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The operation would last for a week & 1 day and would be dubbed a failure, as the crossing of the Rhine river failed. The British at Arnhem were overrun on the 21st and many were trapped when the evacuation on the 25th took place.
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