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Battle of : 75th Anniversary

Summary

This year marks the 75th anniversary of , an unsuccessful Allied operation during the Second World War. The objective of the operation was to capture river and canal crossings in the German-occupied and establish a route into Germany.1 The operation ran from 17–25 1944, and involved over 35,000 Allied and glider troops landing behind enemy lines.2 This was the largest airborne operation attempted up to that point during the Second World War. Allied ground forces also advanced into the occupied Netherlands, in a coordinated fashion, in an attempt to secure the crossings once they had been captured.

The furthest from the frontline were the road and rail crossings at the city of Arnhem. The of Arnhem saw some of the fiercest fighting of . The Allied forces were eventually defeated at Arnhem following heavy losses.3

Background

In , following D-Day and the of , the German army was in retreat across .4 The Allies’ supply lines eventually became overstretched as they pursued the retreating forces. The pursuit was brought to a halt in early to allow formations to be replenished and refuel. During this period, the Allied commanders debated different plans for the invasion of Germany. The commander of the British 21st , Field Marshal , proposed that Allied forces should establish a route into northern Germany through the Netherlands. This would bypass the German defences of the and enable the Allies to occupy the industrial area of the Valley. It would also relieve the Allies’ resupply problems by opening the approaches to harbour.5 This proposal was accepted by the , Dwight D Eisenhower.

It was agreed that Operation Market Garden would consist of the following parts:

• Three Allied airborne divisions would land behind enemy lines and seize and canal crossings near to the occupied cities of , and Arnhem.6 Eindhoven would be captured by the US 101st while Nijmegen would be captured by the US 82nd Division.7 The British 1st Airborne Division—with the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade attached—would capture the crossings in and around Arnhem. • At the same time, the British XXX , commanded by Lieutenant-General , would advance by road with the support of other formations to secure these crossings. This advance would be led by the .8

Landings at Arnhem

The capture of Arnhem would be led by -General , commander of the 1st Airborne Division. Of the Dutch cities, Arnhem was the most distant from the Allies’ frontline.9 It was agreed that

Edward Scott | 3 September 2019 1

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the landings at Arnhem would be staggered. The plan was for an initial landing to be made by from the 1st Parachute Brigade and glider troopers from the 1st Airlanding Brigade. They would be reinforced initially by the 4th Parachute Brigade and the rest of the 1st Airlanding Brigade, and then by the Polish Independent Parachute Brigade.

Alongside British and Polish servicemen, there would also be soldiers from other nationalities. The drop zones would be prepared by the 21st Independent Parachute Company, which included a number of Jewish German and Austrian refugees.10 Also making the landing would be Jedburg teams—small, multinational groups, including Dutch nationals, who would join resistance groups fighting in the Netherlands.

Battle of Arnhem

The operation began on 17 September 1944. British troops from the 1st Parachute Brigade and 1st Airlanding Brigade landed outside Arnhem as part of the first wave. 1st Parachute Brigade then advanced to secure the crossings over the river. They were met with resistance from German troops based in the area, who managed to destroy the rail .11 Radio failures also hampered the coordination of Allied forces on the ground.12 By the end of the first day, most of the 1st Parachute Brigade were cut off from the main road bridge in Arnhem. Only 2nd , under Lieutenant- John Frost, ‘C’ Company of 3rd Battalion and members of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron had reached the road bridge. Over the following days, they held the north end of the bridge in the face of repeated counter attacks.13

The arrival of reinforcements from the 4th Parachute Brigade and the rest of the 1st Airlanding Brigade on 18 September was delayed by bad weather.14 Following a number of attempts, Allied forces were unable to reach the road bridge and relieve 2nd Battalion. During this time, they were also unable to gain radio contact with the RAF. This and German opposition on the ground meant the majority of resupply drops were prevented from reaching the Allies. This was despite efforts by the RAF, flying at low altitude in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. The Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, due to land on 19 September, were unable to make the journey due to the continuing bad weather.15

Meanwhile, the progress of XXX Corp into the Netherlands was slowed by German opposition.16 By the end of 18 September, XXX Corp had reached Eindhoven, which had already been secured by the US 101st Division.17 The crossing over the Wilhelmina Canal, north of Eindhoven, had been destroyed by the Germans. However, XXX Corp was able to make the crossing using a erected by British . On 19 September, XXX Corp linked up with the US 82nd Division at Nijmegen. The road bridge at Nijmegen remained in German hands. The XXX Corp and the US 82nd Division eventually broke through on the evening of 20 September.

At Arnhem, the survivors of 2nd Battalion eventually surrendered after continued bombardment and German troops regained control of the northern end of the road bridge on 21 September. The remaining Allies had formed a defensive around the village of to the west of Arnhem. While XXX Corps were now able to provide some support, the Allies encircled in Oosterbeek continued to face attack from German troops. The Polish Independent Parachute Brigade eventually landed south of the Nederrijn on 21 September with their commanding , Stanisław Sosabowski.18 However, the ferry across to the northern side had been destroyed by the Germans.19

Over the coming days, the encircled Allies in Oosterbeek successfully resisted attempts by German troops to overrun their position. However, they eventually retreated south across the Nederrijn on 3

25 September.20 Arnhem was lost and the Allies were unable to make the crossing into Germany.

The Allies did not cross the Nederrijn again until the spring of 1945.21 However, the Allies held territory gained to the south of Arnhem at Eindhoven and Nijmegen.22 Since the battle, some have argued that Operation Market Garden was fundamentally flawed.23 However, others believe the risks involved were worth taking, given that the prize would have been a possible early end to the war.

Casualties

1,485 Allied troops were killed or died of wounds during the .24 In addition, 6,525 became prisoners of war. XXX Corps suffered 1,480 casualties, while 377 Allied aircraft and gliders were lost together with 862 crew. In recognition of the bravery of those who fought, five Victoria Crosses were awarded, four of them posthumously.25 The number of German casualties was 3,300, although estimates put the figure as high as 8,000.26

An estimated 3,600 Dutch civilians died during Operation Market Garden.27 During the winter of 1944, Dutch civilians also suffered reprisals for assisting the Allies. As well as support provided by the , 30,000 Dutch railwaymen had gone on strike during the operation in an attempt to disrupt German manoeuvres.28 In response, Germany withdrew food transports into the Netherlands, leading to wide-spread starvation. Other reprisals included men of fighting age being sent into forced labour.

Operation Market Garden and the

The commander of XXX Corps, Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, was knighted in 1945 and went on to serve as Gentleman Usher of the from 1949–63.29 Those who took part in Operation Market Garden also included Lord Carrington. Lord Carrington joined the House of Lords in 1945.30 He was a Captain in the during the operation and involved in the taking of the road bridge at Nijmegen.31 Lord Carrington went on to hold a number of cabinet roles, including Leader of the House of Lords between 1963 and 1964 and Foreign Secretary from 1979–82.32 He died in 2018 after serving in the House for over 70 years.

Commemoration

A series of events are planned to take place in Arnhem between 20 and 22 September 2019 to commemorate the battle. The official commemoration in Arnhem will take place on 20 September.33 On 21 September, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands will attend a commemorative service and wreath-laying at Ginkel Heath near Ede.34 Ginkel Heath was one of the landing sites used during the operation. This will be followed by a series of further commemorative events.

The Chief of the General and the Chief of the Air Staff will also be attending events in Arnhem.35 The Mercian and the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the antecedent of the South and the , respectively, will also be in attendance. These contributed the glider-borne troops who made up the 1st Airlanding Brigade who fought at Arnhem.

Further Information

• Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018 4

1 Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, p 4. 2 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘The Battle for Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 3 ibid. 4 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 5 General Sir Mike Jackson, ‘The Battle of Arnhem Wasn’t Doomed from the Start. It Might Even Have Been a Risk Worth Taking’, Spectator, 19 May 2018. 6 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘The Battle for Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 7 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 8 Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, p 6. 9 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 10 , Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, p 77. 11 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 12 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘The Battle for Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 13 Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, p 7. 14 Antony Beevor, Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, p 142–8. 15 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 35 gliders carrying Polish anti-tank troops were able to attempt to make the journey on 19 September. Antony Beevor, Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, pp 181–2. 16 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘The Battle for Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 17 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 18 Most of the Brigade was able to make the crossing. However, of the 118 planes carrying the brigade, 46 had to turn back due to bad weather. Antony Beevor, Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, p 254. 19 Attempts by Polish troops to cross to the Nederrijn river under enemy fire to reinforce Oosterbeek were unsuccessful. Only 35 on 22 September and a further 200 on 23 September made the crossing. Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, pp 11–12. 20 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ‘The Battle for Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 21 ibid. 22 HL Hansard, 3 October 1944, col 270. 23 General Sir Mike Jackson, ‘The Battle of Arnhem Wasn’t Doomed from the Start. It Might Even Have Been a Risk Worth Taking’, Spectator, 19 May 2018. 24 Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, p 17. 25 Imperial War Museums, ‘The Story of Operation “Market Garden” in Photos’, 8 January 2018. 26 Ministry of Defence, Operation Market Garden, Netherlands 17–25 September 1944, September 2004, p 17. 27 Antony Beevor, Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, p 283. 28 Verzets Resistance Museum, ‘The Railway Strike’, accessed 1 August 2019. 29 House of Lords Journal Office Records, accessed 27 August 2019. 30 He received his writ of summons in 1941, but was not introduced until after the end of the Second World War. 31 Antony Beevor, Arnhem: Battle for the Bridges, 2018, pp 217–18. 32 BBC News, ‘Lord Carrington, Former Foreign Secretary, Dies Aged 99’, 10 July 2018. 33 Gemeente Arnhem, ‘The 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem’, accessed 27 August 2019. 34 The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, ‘The Prince of Wales will Attend Battle of Arnhem 75th Anniversary Commemorative Events in The Netherlands’, 23 August 2019. 35 House of Lords, ‘Written Question: World War II: Anniversaries’, 17 July 2019, HL17077.

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