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North Devon Remembers
Those who died in the Service of their Country
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Parachute Brigade Battle Plan 17 September 1944
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A general outline of the Battle for Arnhem
The Battle at Arnhem took place during
World War II, and was part of the largest airborne operation ever mounted.
Named, ‘Operation Market Garden’ it was the brain child of the British General Bernard Montgomery, and its aim was to gain control over the major bridges that spanned the Dutch rivers of Mass, Waal and Lower Rhine, clearing the way for an Allied advance into northern Germany.
Planned jointly with US forces it was launched on 17 September 1944. In total more than 16,500 paratroopers and 3,500 troops in gliders were dropped during the operation. In addition, the British 30th (Armoured) Corps was also deployed to help consolidate the captured bridges.
It took the British paratroopers four hours to reach their target and by that time the Germans had been tipped off about the attack. Two German SS Panzer Regiments were, unbeknown to allied intelligence, located in the vicinity of Arnhem, ready to repel the airborne landings. Additionally, bad weather delayed both the resupply of ammunition and the arrival of the Polish Airborne (Support) Brigade.
A small number of British paratroopers succeeded in capturing the north end of the Arnhem Bridge but were soon pinned down by fierce German counter attacks. Eventually, on 25th, and with their ammunition totally depleted, the few that remained, surrendered. The gallantry and determination shown by the paratroopers at Arnhem is that of legend.
When the Battle was over, 7167 men had been listed as killed, missing, or wounded in action.
Subsequently, seven British paratroopers were awarded the Victoria Cross, and the Supreme Allied Commander, General Eisenhower said "there has been no single performance by any unit that has more greatly inspired me or more excited my admiration than the nine-day action by the 1st British Parachute Division between September the 17th and 25th.".
The battle was immortalised in a book by Cornelius Ryan, entitled, “ A bridge too far”: which was subsequently made into a successful film of the same name.
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