WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/European Theatre – West • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The Allies' failed attempt to seize a chain of bridges into the Netherlands by airborne and armored assault, culminating in the destruction of the British 1st Airborne at Arnhem. (17–25 September 1944)
Chronological Storyline (18 Milestones)
Sep 17, 1944 CE
Model reorganizes German defense rapidly
Field Marshal Walter Model, surprised by the landings, quickly reorganized the defense of Arnhem using elements of II SS Panzer Corps under Wilhelm Bittrich, including the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Model
Photograph of German general, Walther Model. Image retouched using Photo Editor at https://www.befunky.com/create/ (Contrast:-48%, Highlights: +28%, Shadows: -57%) By Unknown author - Photographs available at www.audiovis.nac.gov.pl are public domain or the owner of the copyrights is the State Treasury of Poland, represented by the National Digital Archive and which grant free of charge licence for free use of the materials on all known exploitation fields., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=185896541
Sep 17, 1944 CE
British 1st Airborne lands near Arnhem
Major-General Roy Urquhart's 1st Airborne Division landed west of Arnhem, but only the 1st Parachute Brigade headed for the road bridge, while German forces under Model began to react quickly. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arnhem
Aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge. Had General Montgomery's ambitious scheme for seizing the Rhine bridges succeeded, the war in Europe might have been shortened by many months. In the event, however, back-up forces were unable to come up quickly enough to enable the advanced airborne troops to hold the strategically vital bridge at Arnhem. By Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph MH 2061 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630158
Sep 17, 1944 CE
Market Garden launches: airborne drops begin
On 17 September 1944, the US 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the British 1st Airborne Division dropped near Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem, while XXX Corps began its advance to link up with them. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden
Parachutes open overhead as waves of paratroops land in Holland during operations by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. By This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States. - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72639Operation Market Garden: Montgomery's Greatest Failure
Sep 17, 1944 CE
XXX Corps begins advance up Hell's Highway
Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks's XXX Corps launched its ground assault from the Meuse-Escaut canal, meeting heavier German resistance than expected and advancing only a limited distance on the first day. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXX_Corps_(United_Kingdom)
The insignia used by British XXX Corps during 1944-1945 North West Europe Campaign By Original: British Army Vector: EnigmaMcmxc - This photograph INS 7207 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. Randel, P. B.; Crawford, W.H. (illustrator); Wilson, D.B. (2006) [1945] A Short History of 30 Corps in the European Campaign 1944-1945, MLRS Books, ISBN 978-1-905973-69-9, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38779339
Sep 18, 1944 CE
101st Airborne secures Eindhoven bridges
The 101st Airborne Division captured the bridges at Veghel and Eindhoven, but XXX Corps was delayed by German demolitions and congestion on the narrow corridor later dubbed Hell's Highway. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division
Patch of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division. By Darz Mol - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=863753
Sep 18, 1944 CE
Germans block 1st Airborne at Arnhem
German forces under Bittrich blocked the 1st Airborne's advance toward Arnhem bridge, preventing most of the division from reaching the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which held the northern end. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/II_SS_Panzer_Corps
Sep 18, 1944 CE
82nd Airborne fights for Groesbeek heights
The 82nd Airborne Division, under General James Gavin, secured the Groesbeek heights and defended against German counterattacks but had not yet captured the main Nijmegen road bridge. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82nd_Airborne_Division
United States Army 82nd Airborne Division shoulder sleeve insignia. By Dragases (talk) - Author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14924568
Sep 19, 1944 CE
Frost holds Arnhem bridge northern end
Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost's 2nd Battalion held the northern end of Arnhem road bridge against repeated German assaults, but was cut off from the rest of the 1st Airborne Division. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frost_(British_Army_officer)
Frost holds Arnhem bridge northern end By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=211380
Sep 19, 1944 CE
XXX Corps reaches Eindhoven
XXX Corps linked up with the 101st Airborne at Eindhoven, but the advance northward remained slow due to determined German resistance and continuous attacks on the single supply road. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden
Parachutes open overhead as waves of paratroops land in Holland during operations by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. By This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States. - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72639
Sep 20, 1944 CE
Nijmegen bridge assault by 82nd Airborne
On 20 September, the 82nd Airborne's 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR, crossed the Waal river in assault boats under heavy fire and seized the northern end of the Nijmegen road bridge in a daring assault. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waal_Crossing
Parachutes open overhead as waves of paratroops land in Holland during operations by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. By This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States. - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72639
Sep 20, 1944 CE
Frost's force at Arnhem bridge overwhelmed
After holding out for over two days, Frost's battalion at Arnhem bridge was overwhelmed by German attacks; Frost was wounded and captured, and the bridge's northern end fell to the Germans. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arnhem
Aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge. Had General Montgomery's ambitious scheme for seizing the Rhine bridges succeeded, the war in Europe might have been shortened by many months. In the event, however, back-up forces were unable to come up quickly enough to enable the advanced airborne troops to hold the strategically vital bridge at Arnhem. By Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph MH 2061 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630158
Sep 21, 1944 CE
1st Airborne squeezed into Oosterbeek perimeter
The remnants of the 1st Airborne Division, unable to reach Arnhem bridge, withdrew under heavy German pressure into a defensive perimeter around the village of Oosterbeek west of Arnhem. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arnhem
Aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge. Had General Montgomery's ambitious scheme for seizing the Rhine bridges succeeded, the war in Europe might have been shortened by many months. In the event, however, back-up forces were unable to come up quickly enough to enable the advanced airborne troops to hold the strategically vital bridge at Arnhem. By Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph MH 2061 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630158
Sep 21, 1944 CE
Germans recapture Arnhem road bridge
With Frost's position destroyed, German forces secured full control of Arnhem road bridge on 21 September, eliminating any chance of the 1st Airborne holding the crossing for XXX Corps. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arnhem
Aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge. Had General Montgomery's ambitious scheme for seizing the Rhine bridges succeeded, the war in Europe might have been shortened by many months. In the event, however, back-up forces were unable to come up quickly enough to enable the advanced airborne troops to hold the strategically vital bridge at Arnhem. By Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph MH 2061 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630158
Sep 22, 1944 CE
XXX Corps reaches Nijmegen but stalls
XXX Corps reached Nijmegen and crossed the Waal, but its advance toward Arnhem was halted by fierce German resistance and the failure to secure a route through to the trapped 1st Airborne. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden
Parachutes open overhead as waves of paratroops land in Holland during operations by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. By This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States. - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72639
Sep 23, 1944 CE
Polish brigade drops near Driel
Major-General Stanisław Sosabowski's Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade dropped near Driel, south of the Rhine, but could not cross the river in strength to reinforce the 1st Airborne at Oosterbeek. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Sosabowski
Stanisław Sosabowski, (1892-1967) commander of the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade. By unknown-anonymous - Centralne Archiwum Wojskowe, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49084180
Sep 24, 1944 CE
Oosterbeek perimeter under relentless attack
The 1st Airborne's perimeter at Oosterbeek was subjected to continuous German attacks and artillery fire; the division was running low on ammunition and medical supplies with no relief in sight. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arnhem
Aerial view of the bridge over the Neder Rijn, Arnhem; British troops and destroyed German armoured vehicles are visible at the north end of the bridge. Had General Montgomery's ambitious scheme for seizing the Rhine bridges succeeded, the war in Europe might have been shortened by many months. In the event, however, back-up forces were unable to come up quickly enough to enable the advanced airborne troops to hold the strategically vital bridge at Arnhem. By Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph MH 2061 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=630158
Sep 25, 1944 CE
Decision to withdraw 1st Airborne from Arnhem
On 25 September, Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning authorized the withdrawal of the 1st Airborne from Oosterbeek across the Rhine, as XXX Corps could not break through to relieve them. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Browning_(British_Army_officer)
Sep 25, 1944 CE
Operation Berlin: evacuation across the Rhine
Under cover of darkness, around 2,400 survivors of the 1st Airborne were evacuated across the Rhine in Operation Berlin, but over 6,000 were captured or killed, ending the battle as an Allied failure. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Berlin_(World_War_II)
