Operation Market Garden in Netherlands: Did not go well.
Calamitous event with Brits sustaining 13K casulaties, & US ~ 4k from September 17 to September 25 1944. The Germans basically tortured & starved the Dutch in the North after the failure until the end of the war because the Dutch openly celebrated the attack, but were not ultimatey freed until end of war. German atocities are almost unfathomable
This event began a series of 3 costly battles (all seemingly our mistake of overconfidence amongst other reasons) that surprised & bloodied the US Army after the wild success in France: Market Garden (Sept 17 – Sept 25), Hurtgen Forest (Sept 19 – Dec 16) & Battle of the Bulge (Dec 16 – Jan 25).
‘View Full-Size Picture’ The Allies did not anticipate the German military recovery. But the German soldiers were probably the best trained in the world, defending their homeland, and put between a Rock & a Hard Place: The West wanted Unconditional Surrender & the Russians were progressing in the East & were pissed off (with reason).
On the bus, we saw all 10 BoB shows plus Longest Day, Bridge Too Far, Battleground, & Kellys Heroes (I think Histroian Liked the movie?). on-screen was a ‘Bridge Too Far’ I believe
Lieutenant Col Cole MOH winner at Caretan was killed by a sniper here. There is an interview with him re: Caretan. https://youtu.be/FSpJ77q0XLU
Interned in Margaten Cemetary in Holland. More than 8000 US Soldiers interned here. Every grave has a Dutch sponsor & 80 years later there is a waiting list to sponsor a grave. How’s that for appreciation? This picture taken June 7th. We visited here leaving Netherlands & breaking down in Vielsam Belgium. Hard to keep track of all the cemetaries we visited.
Son en Breugel. Farm field adjacent to family farm in subsequent pictures. The 506th Landed in this field during Market Garden. Quite a sight to see for this family which still has a survivor from this event. Even 80 years later they still find gear from that assault in the field, and put it into a little museum. Must be contracted by BoB to provide presentations & provide coffee to visitng busloads. We also gave donations.
This is the family that lived adjacent to the farm field where the 506th dropped & barged into their life for the next 80 years. This is still an active farm. IK many of the 101st who landed in field have come back to visit. It’s a well kept complex of buildings. The older gentleman (AKA the witness)in the middle was 4-5 years old at invasion; He’s the little tyke in Photo#6. He did not speak English. The lady to his right is his niece, and she did the presentation with the teenager who is a nephew of lady. They spoke English. Young kid also maintains a museum of military paraphenalia in a building including the parachute in Photo#7. All found in field. She also provided refreshments.
This is a photo of the 4 children of the farm owners (young boy in foreground is old gentleman in previous picture). The witness remembers he got sick from all the candy the GI’s gave him. The older boy on the accordian also got sick from all of the cigarettes the GI’s gave him. Next picture is aerial view of gliders after landing. They usually came in after the parachutists, The next picutre is the drop. Finally inside the Dakota before takeoff. Looks like Ryan O’Neil who was in the “Bridge too Far”.
The presenter had a spiritual side to her & her abode was kind of new age. There we had kind of a spirtual awakening with all of the Posse hanging onto the parachute from battle & flapping it. I could imagine living in that space was a little overwhelming like many parts of Europe.
The Market Garden was a British Plan to drop 3 airborne divions along a 64 mile Highway 69 (called Hell Highway) & have the Irish Guards attack north through that protected corridor to Arnhem , and gain quick access to Germany in the North. The 101st was the most Southern Unit. Seizing Cities & bridges was the priority. Inital problems began on this canal. The 506th landed at the farm & rushed to the Son bridge over Wilhelmina Canal. Germans blew bridge up in their faces. Had to install temp bridge. Another problem that emerged was that this “Hell Highway” was a narrow corridor which the Germans could interrupt at their convenience. Delays everywhere. Made for an exciting movie with alot of drama. Many people suffered alot including Northern Dutch, Polish Paratroopers, & British 1st Para Division not to mention US had many casualties too.
This is our hotel in Nijmegin Netherlands June 5-7. This city was a focus of 82nd Airborne in Market Garden . See top of page. Nice hotel that is at the matrix of numerous bike paths reflecting the Dutch active lifestyle.
This is one of the bike paths just in front of hotel in Photo#9. At “Rush Hour” hundreds of bikes were on these paths.
This is a tribute to the heroes of the 82nd Airborne at the bridge made famous in “Bridge too Far” in photo#12. Major Julian Cook’s 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment led the attack across the Waal River Crossing. The Dutch have generously setup many tributes to the Allied attack
Here is the bridge over the Waal mentioned in previous photo that was on the route for The Irish Guards. This attack was delayed until boats were made available
Here is a look down Waal river with bridge behind us. That gentleman taking video was a wonderfully funny Vietnam Vet from Washington. He videotaped everything & wished I had a copy of that..
George Marshall was the Chief of Staff during WWII as well as Secretary of Defense & State. He also was the namesake of the Marshall Plan which aided Europe recovering economically. This is a Dutch tribute to George Marshall near Waal Bridge.
In 1944, the building was used as the headquarters of the 1st British Airborne Division during the Battle of Arnhem. Since 1978, the building has housed the Airborne Museum, which was previously located in Doorwerth Castle.
In Market Garden, The military unit most devastated was the Britsh 1st Airborne Division & The Polish Airborne Brigade. The Divison was effectively destroyed. This museum was extemely interesting. They setup this re-enactment set of roomms where one could get the look & feel of the battle. This is one of the rooms.
Arnhem Osterbeek War Cemetary commonly known as the Airborne Cemetery, is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Oosterbeek, near Arnhem, the Netherlands. It was established in 1945 and is home to 1,764 graves from the Second World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnhem_Oosterbeek_War_Cemetery
Just after the failure of Market Garden, Easy was stationed on this island to defend against German infiltration. They were exposed to constant German surveillence from high ground, but also weather was extremely wet & cold. Had a very successful attack against 2 companies of SS but with alot of casualties. Winter is promoted to Major & becomes Battalion XO leaving Easy. See Series#5 .
who’s that guy?
Museum of artifacts from adjacent farmland maintained by family visited at Son en Breugel in photos 4-7.