DK - World War II Map by Map

198 TURNING THE TIDE 1943–1944

Dinther

Veghel

Schijndel

Boxtel

Son en

Breugel

Nuenen

Helmond

Gemert

Koevering

Uden

Erp

Eindhoven

Best

Valkenswaard

Arnhem

Huissen

Ressen

Bemmel

Beek

Wyler

Groesbeek

Oss Grave Heumen

Hatert

Oosterbeek

Renkum

Elst

Driel

Opheusden

Nijmegen

Waal Waal

Low

er

Rh

ine

Maas^

M

aa

s-

W

aa

l (^) C
an
al
Wilhelmina Canal
(^) W
ilh
el
mi
na
(^) C
an
al
IJs
sel
G E R M A N Y
G R E A T E R
N E T H E R L A N D
German S
84th Corps
German 2nd
SS Panzer
Corps
German 2nd
Parachute
Corps
AMBITIOUS PLANS
After swift Allied progress through France and
Belgium, General Montgomery believed that a
powerful, narrow thrust would reach Germany
faster than fighting on a broader front.
▽ Preparing for the drop
Operation Market Garden was the
largest parachute drop of the war. Here,
US paratroopers receive a final briefing
before dropping over the Netherlands.
Sep 20 A temporary truce
allows the British to evacuate
the wounded from Arnhem.
Sep 18 A second wave of Polish
airborne troops arrives, but is
unable to break through to join
the 2nd Parachute Battalion in
Arnhem (see panel map).
Sep 17–21 German artillery
attacks on the road between
Eindhoven and Nijmegen,
known as “Hell’s Highway,”
hamper the Allies.
Sep 18 The Germans
counterattack around
Groesbeek, temporarily
holding one of the
Allied landing zones.
Sep 17 30th Corps’ slow advance
from Valkenswaard to Eindhoven
puts Operation Market Garden
behind schedule.
Sep 20 Allied forces
battle the Germans
at Nuenen.
Sep 17 The bridge
at Son is blown up
by the Germans.
101st Airborne Division movements
2 EINDHOVEN LIBERATED
SEPTEMBER 17–18, 1944
The 101st Airborne Division made good progress
around Eindhoven, moving from their landing zones
to capture four of their target bridges. However,
they failed to prevent the Germans from destroying
a crucial bridge across the Wilhelmina Canal at
Son en Breugel. An attempt to reach another
crossing at Best was blocked by the Germans.
However, on September 18 the Americans
managed to enter and liberate Eindhoven,
where they were joined by 30th Corps.
See panel
3 HOLD-UP AT NIJMEGEN
SEPTEMBER 17–20, 1944
The US 82nd Airborne Division captured the
bridges at Grave and Heumen and secured the
Groesbeek Heights near Nijmegen, but struggled
to take the vital road bridge over the Waal River.
By September 19, they had been joined by 30th
Corps, and in a pincer movement that struck
from north and south, the Allies secured the
bridge the next evening. Exhausted by the heavy
fighting and slowed by the narrow road and
boggy conditions, the Allies were delayed in
their progress toward Arnhem.
82nd Airborne Division movements
1 THE OPERATION BEGINS
SEPTEMBER 17, 1944
Speed and timing were essential to the success of
Market Garden because the British 30th Corps
needed to coordinate with the airborne troops.
On September 17, airborne troops from the US
101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were dropped
near Eindhoven and Nijmegen, while the British
1st Airborne Division landed just east of Arnhem.
Meanwhile, the 30th Corps began its advance
along the road to Eindhoven, but its progress
was soon slowed by German attacks.
Allied parachute and
glider landing zones
US_198-199_Operation_market_garden.indd 198 19/03/19 5:40 PM