Battle of Arnhem: 75th Anniversary Summary This year marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, 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 Netherlands and establish a route into Germany.1 The operation ran from 17–25 September 1944, and involved over 35,000 Allied parachute 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 Battle of Arnhem saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war. The Allied forces were eventually defeated at Arnhem following heavy losses.3 Background In August 1944, following D-Day and the invasion of Normandy, the German army was in retreat across France.4 The Allies’ supply lines eventually became overstretched as they pursued the retreating forces. The pursuit was brought to a halt in early September 1944 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 Army Group, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, proposed that Allied forces should establish a route into northern Germany through the Netherlands. This would bypass the German defences of the Siegfried Line and enable the Allies to occupy the industrial area of the Ruhr Valley. It would also relieve the Allies’ resupply problems by opening the approaches to Antwerp harbour.5 This proposal was accepted by the Supreme Allied Commander, General 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 bridges and canal crossings near to the occupied cities of Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem.6 Eindhoven would be captured by the US 101st Division 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 Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, would advance by road with the support of other formations to secure these crossings. This advance would be led by the Guards Armoured Division.8 Landings at Arnhem The capture of Arnhem would be led by Major-General Roy Urquhart, 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 2 the landings at Arnhem would be staggered. The plan was for an initial landing to be made by paratroopers 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 Nederrijn river. They were met with resistance from German troops based in the area, who managed to destroy the rail bridge.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 Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel 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 Bailey bridge erected by British Royal Engineers. 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 pocket around the village of Oosterbeek to the west of Arnhem. While XXX Corps were now able to provide some artillery 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 officer, Major General 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 Battle of Arnhem.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 Dutch resistance, 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 House of Lords The commander of XXX Corps, Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks, was knighted in 1945 and went on to serve as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod 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 Grenadier Guards 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 Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff will also be attending events in Arnhem.35 The Mercian Regiment and the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the antecedent of the South Staffordshire Regiment and the Border Regiment, respectively, will also be in attendance. These regiments contributed the glider-borne troops who made up the 1st Airlanding Brigade who fought at Arnhem.