Frost’s Perimeter By Mike Haught

The primary objective of the 1st Airborne Division in Operation Reaching the Bridge Market Garden was to capture the Arnhem Road Bridge over the The lead company reached the Arnhem Road Bridge at Rhine intact. Brigadier Gerald Lathbury’s 1st Parachute Brigade, 2000 hours and deployed into nearby houses to form a defensive reinforced with engineers and anti-tank guns, spearheaded the position. The 1st Parachute Brigade Headquarters had followed assault. the 2nd Parachute Battalion into Arnhem and arrived at the bridge Since the brigade’s drop zone was over 6 miles (10km) from 45 minutes later. However, Brigadier Lathbury had stayed with the objective, the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron was the 3rd Battalion to urge them through the German resistance sent ahead of Lathbury’s troops with its armed jeeps to make a along Lion Route. coup de main dash to the bridge and hold it until relieved. The The 2nd Battalion made three attempts to force its way across three parachute battalions would then march to Arnhem via three Arnhem Bridge under the cover of darkness but a German separate routes, code-named Leopard, Lion and Tiger. armoured car on the south end and a pillbox near the northern Lieutenant Colonel John Frost’s 2nd Battalion left their assembly end prevented the bridge’s complete capture. A flame-thrower point in Heelsum and headed toward Arnhem along the southern team eventually knocked out the pillbox, but the battalion could Lion Route at 1530 hours on D-Day (17 September 1944). Frost not capture the southern end of the bridge as the Germans began had orders to secure a railway bridge and a pontoon bridge on to reinforce. their way to Arnhem. Frost hoped to use these secondary bridges By dawn on 18 September, Frost had established a perimeter to send a company to the south side of the Rhine and attack around the northern end of the bridge with about 740 men from the Arnhem road bridge from the south while the main force the 2nd Battalion and the 1st Brigade Headquarters. attacked from the north. Frost’s 2nd Battalion did not encounter any significant resistance The First German Attacks on the southern route to Arnhem until it reached the railway The Germans soon launched probing attacks on Frost’s bridge. However, the Germans demolished the railroad bridge perimeter. At 0600 hours SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann, initially just as the paras reached it. They had also removed the middle a small collection of reconnaissance platoons from section of the pontoon bridge making it equally useless so Frost 10. SS-Panzerdivision, launched an assault from the northeast and his battalion pressed on. against Frost’s perimeter. However, the uncoordinated infantry German resistance steadily increased as they entered the city, but and armour attacks were easily beaten back. Frost’s troops either overcame it or bypassed it using alleys, side Then, at 0900 hours 22 vehicles from SS-Kampfgruppe streets, and gardens. Graebner charged across the bridge from the southern end. At first the paras thought the armoured cars were the advanced before encountering heavy resistance. The two battalions had guard of the British 30 Corps, but as the German markings unfortunately run headlong into the newly formed blocking line became clear, they quickly prepared for the fight to come. of SS-Kampfgruppe Spindler. Quietly, they waited until the last possible moment before The 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalions managed to force their way unleashing anti-tank guns, PIAT anti-tank projectors and small- to within a mile of Frost’s perimeter but heavy casualties and arms fire. Most of Graebner’s assault force was completely strengthening German resistance prevented them from breaking destroyed and those few that made it through went on to join through to the bridge. On 19 September the 2nd Battalion of the SS-Kampfgruppe Spindler. South Staffordshire Regiment and the 11th Parachute Battalion tried to break through to Frost and his men but were again met At 1800 hours the Germans launched a third attempt to capture by very heavy resistance from SS KG Spindler. the bridge. Kampfgruppe Knaust was hastily formed out of several training and recuperation units and immediately sent to The Germans were reinforced by ten StuG G assault guns counterattack the British eastern perimeter. from the 280th Assault Gun Brigade. The presence of armour gave Spindler a decisive advantage as the vehicles set about Unlike the previous attacks, Knaust had a couple of platoons reducing buildings containing paratroopers to rubble. With their of old training Panzers at his disposal. The tank and infantry cover gone, the paratroopers were forced to withdraw to better assault pushed into Frost’s perimeter from the east and made positions all the while harassed by the elite SS troops. some headway into the defences before being overwhelmed by PIAT projectors, 6 pdr anti-tank guns, and rifle fire. Furthermore, the Germans called up several heavy anti-aircraft guns and placed them on the southern bank of the Rhine to shell West Arnhem the British. Four British battalions were repulsed with heavy Meanwhile, as Frost and his men held their ground at Arnhem casualties. Only about 500 men returned to the new British Bridge, the men of the 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalions defensive position forming at Oosterbeek. From this point on, overcame the initial German resistance west of Oosterbeek Frost and his men were on their own. and had pushed their way into the western reaches of Arnhem

SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann SS-Hauptsturmführer Arnhem Heinrich Brinkmann Frost’s Perimeter

Sep 20: Frost and other wounded Paras are evacuated by Germans.

Bde Def Pln and No. 3 Pln, 1 AL Lt Rgt., 250 Com. Lt. Coy RA Observer HQ and Support Coys, Glider Part of Bde HQ Pilots, and parts Mortar of No. 2 Pln, and German Platoon Prisoners 9 Field Coy, RE Sep 19 2000hrs: 6-pdr, No. 4 A Troop, Elements of KGs Brinkmann 1 Para Sqn, RE, 2 Bn HQ Gun, B Troop and Hummel 10. ‘Frundsberg’ Sep 21 0500: stopped on the C Coy HQ and Last of the bridge embank- No. 9 Pln, 3 Bn. SS-Panzerdivision British paras 6-pdr, No. 2 Gun, ment by Royal attempt to B Troop Engineers. break out. nd 2 Para Battalion HQ Troop, L.t Col John Frost 1 Para Sqn, RE. No. 4 Pln, B Coy Nos. 5 and part of Sep 18-21: 6 Pln B Coy, Elements of B Coy HQ 10. SS Pz Div A Coy HQ, contain British B Troop, RE in the west. 6-pdr, No. 2 Gun, C Troop Ad-hoc formation No. 1 Pln, 1 AL Anti-tank of Divisional Plns Battery HQ, No. 2 Pln, No. 3 Pln, Field Coy, RE A Coy Part of Bde HQ Defence Pln

1 Pln, A Coy 6-pdr, No. 3 Gun, and MG Pln B Troop Sep 18: No. 6 Pln, KG Knaust drives B Coy, No. 2 into British Pln, A Coy perimeter and Kampfgruppe Knaust turned back by heavy fire.

No. 8 Pln, C Coy, 3 Battalion Sep 18, 0900 hrs: Graebner makes his ill-fated charge across Arnhem Bridge.

Sep 19: KG Mielke, part of KG Knaust, strikes toward the bridge and pushes 9. ‘Hohenstaufen’ perimeter back. SS-Aufklärungsabteilung SS-Hauptsturmführer Viktor Graebner A Heroic Defence and high number of casualties eventually took their toll on the defenders and the perimeter started to collapse. To make matters Back in Arnhem, Frost’s paratroopers faced increasing pressure worse, Frost was wounded by shrapnel that afternoon and was along their perimeter but had given up very little ground. The forced to relinquish his command. Germans quickly learned that direct assaults were too costly and instead resorted to artillery barrages and direct fire with The End tank guns to blast and burn the paras out of their buildings. By late afternoon on 20 September the British held an area only By the evening of 19 September, the paratroopers were running one fifth of their original position and could no longer prevent short of food and water, casualties were steadily mounting, and the Germans from using the Arnhem Bridge. The last resistance ammunition was running low for all weapons. At 2000 hours the ended about 0500 hours on the morning of 21 September. Germans launched another assault, this time with Kampfgruppe Hummel, a battlegroup backed by Tiger I E heavy tanks. Of the 740 men of Frost’s force, 81 men were killed or died of their wounds. A few managed to evade capture but the Only two of Hummel’s 14 Tigers arrived to support the assault, majority, Frost included, would spend the rest of the war in the others having broken down on the journey to the battle. captivity. However, they held the north end of Arnhem Bridge Nevertheless, they attacked from the north, charging along the for three days and nine hours, preventing significant German main road embankment. reinforcements from reaching Nijmegen that could have halted The attack pushed forward some way before being stopped the Allied advance. They held on in Arnhem to fire their last by Royal Engineers and the perimeter’s last 6 pdr anti-tank bullet, securing themselves an honoured place in history. gun. The two tanks withdrew and prepared for a much more concerted effort the following day. Frost’s Perimeter Mini Campaign One of the things I definitely wanted to include inA Bridge The Germans assumed that the paratroopers would be low on Too Far was a linked mini campaign that followed the story ammunition and their morale even lower, so a final assault of Frost’s 2nd Parachute Battalion in Arnhem. Since this was a was planned for 20 September. All of the Kampfgruppe units critical moment in the Market Garden saga, I wanted to make operating against the perimeter were called upon to make a final sure that it was highlighted in the Bridge Too Far intelligence drive against the paras. The first attacks began in the morning handbook. and the Germans quickly found that they were only half correct about the state of their fearless enemy. Frost’s perimeter lends itself to wargaming perfectly. Not only are there helpful records of the units involved, but Frost Kampfgruppe Knaust renewed its attack against the east also kept detailed maps as to where they were stationed. For a perimeter, assaulting with Panzergrenadiers and tanks. They wargamer, the result is a mini-campaign just waiting to be built met with some success, but they were having trouble closing on and played! the bridge where the British A Company was firmly entrenched. Over the next few pages, I’d like to talk about the scenarios At one point the Germans attempted to trick the paratroopers included in A Bridge Too Far and talk about the history as by using an ambulance filled with storm troopers. well as the scenarios themselves to introduce everyone to this Not fooled, the paras opened up on the exciting new mini campaign. vehicle killing all of its occupants. One paratrooper wryly remarked, ‘suppose they’ll send a hearse next’. Kampfgruppen Hummel, Brinkmann and Knaust put a tremendous amount of pressure on the British paratroopers. The shortage of ammo Building the Campaign been knocked out, the British player cannot bring it back in subsequent scenarios, so it becomes very important to withdraw I wanted the campaign to give players the sense of the battle. badly mauled platoons before they are destroyed. British players have an initial advantage when they begin the game, with lots of platoons of paras at their disposal to hold The German player, on the other hand, has access to the fort down. Meanwhile, the German player has to collect his reinforcements from outside the city, making sure their forces force and keep the pressure on the British, hoping to reduce keep operating at full strength. them before the final assault is made at the end of the campaign. Both players will have to manage their resources and prepare for The Map the next assault. The project was not without its challenges. One of the most The battle was fought over five days, with four battles. I difficult aspects was to determine the scale of the campaign chose to begin the campaign just as the first major attack was map. A 1/100th scale map of Arnhem would have been ideal, launched. I had considered starting it earlier, but when Frost covering the entire area and giving players the most detailed arrived at the bridge, he was largely unopposed. experience possible. I decided to start the campaign where the real action started, However, when I started mapping out the board, I realized during the assault of SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann. Immediately that a 4’/120cm x 4’/120cm table only covered the immediate following Brinkmann is the famous charge over the bridge by buildings surrounding the bridge, leaving out the embankment Viktor Graebner, as seen in the movie, A Bridge Too Far. beyond. A scale map of Arnhem was going to be gigantic and impractical for your average gamer to setup. After a brief pause in the fighting the campaign crashes into its third battle with Frost’s battalion versus Kampfgruppe Knaust. So, we decided to scale the map down a bit to include Frost’s Then the last assaults are made in the final scenario, including HQ in the north western corner as well as the C Company’s Kampfgruppe Hummel as well as renewed attacks from positions in the south eastern corner. Brinkmann and Knaust. Special Rules The Forces The campaign uses several special rules in order to capture the The forces were relatively easy to assemble, thanks to the flavour of the battle. The most important for the British are the records kept on the perimeter force. I tried to include each Sight in the Guns! and Adjust the Lines special rules. and every British platoon on the table. However, I left most The Sight in the Guns! special rule allows players to use the line of B Company out as they were busy skirmishing in the west. of sight from the command team of an anti-tank gun platoon Otherwise, the major units are all present. instead of the gun itself. This means that a 6 pdr can hit a target The German forces are representative of the troops present in that it can’t see, simulating the tactic used by the British to the assaults that were launched. The quality of troops varies inflict terrible losses on the initial German assaults. greatly, as the Kampgruppen in Arnhem were constructed, from Adjust the Lines allows the British player to re-deploy a platoon a mixture of Waffen-SS,Heer and training units. anywhere within the perimeter. This will help them reinforce the During the campaign, the British player has to make do with line against incoming assaults, as Frost did in Arnhem. the force they have been given. They have to be careful not to For the final scenario the German player may use the Arnhem incur too many losses during the scenarios. Once a platoon has in Ruins special rule, which allows them to reduce up to five buildings to rubble, making sure that the British cannot use them to their advantage. These special rules, and a few others, give each player in the scenarios historical advantages to capitalise on in order to recreate the epic fight for Arnhem Bridge. Scenario 1: Brinkmann’s Assault

Reports of British paratroopers in Arnhem reached the 9. SS- Arnhem British Panzerdivision early in the morning on 18 September. Bridge Perimeter The division had temporary command of the Brinkmann’s 10. SS-Panzerdivision battlegroup, comprised mostly of Frost HQ reconnaissance troops. He was quickly dispatched to scout out the area and see what sort of strength was present at the bridge, if there even was any there. SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann was formed to conduct the mission. They made first contact at 0600 hours on 18 September, far sooner than they had expected. They had run into the 1st Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers as well as some of the SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann N divisional and brigade HQ defence platoons. launched his assault from the north east. His objectives were to test the Brinkmann’s force had a limited number of half-tracks and British strength around the bridge. armoured cars to use against the British paratroopers in Arnhem. The SS troops slipped between the buildings tossing demolition packs into buildings containing British paratroopers. The British proved too difficult to dislodge for the small Kampfgruppe, but the Germans still managed to make a little The British resisted, making life miserable for the assaulting headway toward the bridge, losing a few half-tracks along the troops. Often they would toss the demolition packs back out way. the window where they would explode among the would-be attackers. The idea behind this scenario is that the German player isn’t trying to overrun the British, they are trying to make a dent in Brinkmann managed to get close enough to the bridge to send the British lines as well as trying to reach objectives near the the a half-track to the underpass where they ran head-long into bridge. anti-tank fire from the 6 pdr anti-tank gun from Number 4 Gun, B Troop. The half-track was knocked out, but Frost quickly Breaking through and reaching the objectives will not only earn redeployed his guns to make sure no more incursions such as victory points to add to the campaign tally, it will also increase this were made. the German deployment area in the final scenario.

British Paratroopers ambush SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmanns forward elements. SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann was the first German unit involved in a major action against Lieutenant Colonel John Frost’s 2nd Parachute Battalion at Arnhem Bridge.

Meanwhile, the British player, needs to keep the perimeter intact, preventing the German forces from getting too close to ‘This was a harder battle than any I had fought in Russia. It the bridge. If they can keep the Germans pinned in the corner was constant, close range, hand-to-hand fighting. The English of the map, they’ll be better off to deal with future threats to the were everywhere. The streets for the most part were narrow, perimeter in that area. sometimes not more than 15 feet wide, and we fired at each other from only yards away. We fought to gain inches, cleaning out one room after another. It was absolute hell!’ - Alfred Ringsdorf, SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann

Lieutenant Colonel John Frost On the afternoon of 17 September 1944, Frost’s 2nd Battalion landed on its assigned drop zone about six miles from the Arnhem Bridge. The battalion formed up and set off for the bridge, reaching it by 2000 hours. Immediately, Frost ordered a company to clear the bridge of Germans, and establish a defensive perimeter to hold the northern end of the bridge until help arrived. Frost and the defenders spent the evening fending off German probes into their perimeter. Frost busily kept his perimeter in top condition, keeping guns in top order and redeploying his platoons to shore up gaps in the line. The constant fighting between 18-21 September dwindled Frost’s supplies of food and ammunition, and the wounded began to overwhelm the limited medical services.

On Wednesday (20 September), Frost was wounded by Frost helps sight in a 6 pdr anti-tank gun. shrapnel and relinquished command to Major Freddie Gough, commander of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron. Frost is a warrior in the Flames Of War book, A Bridge Slowly the paras were driven out of their positions, casualties Too Far. In these scenarios, his special rules allow British mounted and supplies exhausted. players to keep their destroyed anti-tank guns in operation by ordering a nearby infantry team to man the gun. He also helps During a short truce on Wednesday evening, Frost and his keep platoons highly motivated, by improving their already wounded were evacuated by the Germans for care and became excellent morale. prisoners of war. Scenario 2: Graebner’s Assault

Arnhem This scenario re-enacts Bridge SS-Kampfgruppe Graebner charged British the famous charge by across the bridge from the south, Perimeter No. 2 Gun, Viktor Grabner and his not expecting to encounter nothing C Troop 9. SS-Panzeraufklärungs but a small British holding force... Frost HQ Abteilung (10th Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion). He assembled his force and launched his assault at 0900 hours, hoping to catch the British by suprise. Every one who has seen the movie A Bridge Too Far remembers the iconic scene of the German halftracks No. 2 Gun, making a mad dash through the massed firepower at the B Troop northern end of the bridge. N British paratroopers spot a convoy on the bridge and quickly realize it is not 30 Corps arriving, but rather the Germans. They get their PIAT anti-tank projectors ready and machine-guns are sited in on the bridge. V Cut Graebner, mounted in his vehicle, proudly leads the charge. Suddenly, all hell breaks loose as bullets and PIAT bombs smash into the German column. Chaos abounds as the paratroopers capitalise on their ambush, cutting down anything that moved. Within minutes the battle is over and all that remains of the column are piles of wreckage, billowing smoke and flame. No. 2 Gun, Though the result was accurate, the movie does not show C Troop its viewers the real culprits behind the carnage. Two 6 pdr anti-tank guns were carefully sited to cover the bridge. After Brinkmann’s attack in the east, Frost had some time to reorganise his perimeter. He sited the anti-tank guns to When Graebner’s vehicles charged across the bridge, the maximise their impact. commander ordered the gun to fire, even though the crew couldn’t see the target. The shot would slam into the side of the Number 2 Gun, from C Troop was dug in between two German vehicle as it passed by the ‘v’ cut. buildings adjacent to the bridge. Before Graebner’s assault, the gun’s commander had stationed himself in one of the nearby Another 6 pdr was sited on the embankment looking down buildings and ordered the gun to fire a couple of solid shots into the road towarad the bridge. It also inflicted terrible losses on the side of the bridge, creating a small ‘v’ cut. Graebner’s column. These two guns were responsible for the majority of Graebner’s losses on the bridge.

Graebner’s recon force race’s enmass across Arnhem Bridge. Graebner’s forces quickly lose all cohesion as the Paratroopers open fire from the buildings adjacent to the bridge.

This battle is going to be a difficult scenario for the Germans. Obviously, the goal of the Germans should be to get across the bridge as quickly as possible. The Germans are restricted to remaining on the bridge with little to no cover from the 6 pdr anti-tank guns firing into their ranks. However, if they can get off the opposite map edge, they are rewarded with lots of victory points. The British need to prevent the German incursion from succeeding in order to make sure the German victory points are kept to a minimum. Not only are the 6 pdr anti-tank guns going to help with that goal, the Royal Engineers have put down a small minefield across the bridge to knock out light vehicles. The battle will surely be bloody, but if the Germans can get off the opposite table, they will add a very respectable number of victory points to their tally. Sighted in on the damaged section of the bridge, Number 2 gun claims the first of many victims.

The Mystery of Graebner’s Humber Historical accounts vary as to whether Graebner rode in a Humber IV or a Humber scout car. What everyone agrees upon is that it was a captured Humber vehicle. So, in A Bridge Too Far, you can field him in either the scout car or the Humber IV. It is unlikely the vehicle would have been repainted in German colours, so it would have remained British SCC15 Olive Drab (Russian Uniform 924). Clear identification Graebner in Graebner in markings were especially important on captured vehicles, so Humber scout car Humber VI several prominent Balkenkreuz decals were added by Jeremy during painting. Above: Graebner’s vehicles. Scenario 3: KNAUST’s Assault

Arnhem The third and final German Bridge No. 3 Gun, British assault that took place No. 3 Platoon, B Troop Perimeter on 18 September, was a C Coy Frost HQ major assault conducted by Kampfgruppe Knaust. Kampfgruppe Knaust launched Major Hans-Peter Knaust, the first real assault to wipe out an invalid with a wooden the British completely, using Panzergrenadiers and tanks. leg (courtesy of the Eastern Front), was the 38-year- old commander of the KG Mielke Panzers Panzergrenadier Training and Replacement Battalion N ‘Bocholt’. He began planning his assault on the British early in the morning of 18 September, before Brinkmann’s The second assault used more cover and cautious and attack. methodical movement in order to clear the British Number 3 After the failure of the reconnaissance battalions to make any Platoon, C Company from the buildings to the south east of the headway, Knaust knew he was up against a much larger foe perimeter. than previously reported. He decided to await reinforcements The Germans began to hit a more strengthened defence as before attempting his assault. it drew closer to the bridge so Knaust’s attack was halted to By mid-afternoon, he received eight Panzer III and IV tanks reorganise and reinforce. used for training purposes from Kampfgruppe Mielke. This The Germans managed to push the paratroopers closer to allowed Knaust to launch a combined assault on the British the bridge, though they failed to reach the objective. Frost’s paras at 1800 hours. perimeter had held up to the assault, and over the next few Knaust’s initial assault was brazenly bold, forcing his Panzers nights he was able to restore some lost ground though small up the road in full view of two British 6 pdr anti-tank guns. counter attacks. The attack was led by two Panzer IV tanks which were not surprisingly knocked out in rapid succession by 6 pdr and PIAT fire. The supporting infantry was withdrawn and a new more cautious plan was tried further south.

Knaust’s forces fight their way into the perimeter supported by Panzer IV’s from Panzerkompanie Mielke. British troops and 6 pdr’s take a heavy toll on the attacking German forces.

Panzerkompanie Mielke Panzerkompanie Mielke, or Tank Company Mielke, was formed as tank training unit commanded by Lieutenant Mielke. It primarily trained crews on driving and tactical maneuvering. They were equipped with two Panzer IV H tanks and six Panzer III G and L tanks. The company, stationed in Germany when Market Garden was launched, entrained and arrived in Arnhem in the evening of 18 September. This gave the Germans their first serious armoured support as the rest of SS tanks had been deployed south of the Rhine in small Kampfgruppen supporting the German troops defending Hell’s Highway.

In this scenario the Germans get to launch their first real defend in the immediate area, and the British player always has combined arms assault. Artillery, tanks and Panzergrenadiers are the option to bulk up the area with extra PIAT teams from the available for the attack. Company HQ platoon. The German force uses the organisations and vehicle statistics The scenario uses the Sight in the Guns special rule, so the from Fortress Europe, as they are a training unit, it is no surprise British player needs to make sure that their 6 pdrs are readily that they are rated Confident Trained. This should be no problem available to defend against the German assault. as the German player has plenty of cover and lots of troops to Additionally, Frost has the option to use Adjust the Lines in get the job done. order to redeploy a platoon, so the British player can move in Furthermore, if Brinkmann’s Assault was able to get close to the some reinforcements. bridge and eliminate a British platoon or two, it would make life The battle will be fierce and like in Brinkmann’s Assault, a easier for Knaust as he charges in. German victory will give the Germans an expanded deployment The British have to hold the line against tanks and infantry area in the final scenario. So it is imperative that both players coming in from the east. They have a few para platoons to fight to win in order to have an advantage in the final game.

A Panzer III M systematically destroys the buildings forcing the paratroopers into the open. Scenario 4: Hummel’s Assault

British Arnhem No. 4 Gun, Three major Kampfgruppen converged on Frost in the closing days of Perimeter the battle, each with varying success against the British perimeter. Bridge B Troop Frost HQ The Germans received a massive boost to their forces on the evening of 19 September when KG Knaust Kampfgruppe Hummel arrived to add a pair of Tiger I E heavy tanks to the assault on N KG Hummel Frost’s perimeter. Royal Of the unit’s 14 tanks, only two managed to arrive in working Engineers condition. Rather than wait for the rest to trickle in, they were SS-KG Brinkmann committed to an assault straight away that evening. The Germans found the shattered ruins of Arnhem difficult The plan was to attack down the embankment with both Tigers, to navigate, especially with the dozens of destroyed vehicles supported by some infantry from SS-Kampfgruppe Brinkmann. littering the streets. However, they made progress. Brinkmann’s The two made a charge down the embankment, but soon ran troops in the north were able to break through to the bridge and into heavy 6 pdr fire. The Tigers also had the unfortunate luck Knaust threatened the southern underpass. to assault the Royal Engineers, which had fortified themselves By midday, the British could no longer keep the Germans from in the buildings next to the embankment. using the bridge to move reinforcements south across the Rhine. The British engineers and anti-tank guns saw off the German Knaust was ordered to head south with Hummel to engage the heavy tanks, but Brinkmann’s troops managed to gain some British and Americans. The next day they began to attack the more ground in the north east. Polish paratroopers which had just arrived in Driel. Over the next few days the Germans elected to halt their Meanwhile, Brinkmann continued to put pressure on the British assaults and instead engulf the area surrounding the bridge from the north. But, the 2nd Parachute Battalion fought hard for in a massive artillery bombardment during the night of 19/20 every inch of ground they held. Frost was wounded by shrapnel September. and was forced to relinquish his command. On the following day, Hummel’s Tigers were shifted south to The small group of embattled paratroopers were finally forced join Kampfgruppe Knaust and a final, all-out attack was made to surrender in the early morning of 21 September, having spent on the British perimeter. each and every round they had remaining.

The British perimeter crumbles as more German soldiers arrive. A Tiger 1 E from Kampfgruppe Hummel smashes through Frost’s perimeter.

The Troubled Journey of Kampfgruppe Hummel Hauptmann (Captian) Hans Hummel was recovering from congested. The Tigers were forced to disembark and travel wounds when he received command of a heavy tank company under their own power for 50 miles (80km). Only two of the in July 1944. It was made up of 14 Tiger I E heavy tanks 14 Tigers managed to get to Arnhem without breaking down. which were assembled from recovered wrecks. The rest were repaired, but weren’t able to get back into the fight until after 21 September. The Tigers were an assortment of old turrets, roadwheels, and commander’s cupolas. Some had Zimmerit anti-magnetic Hummel went on to engage 30 Corps in Elst and the Polish mine paste, applied to the hull, but the majority did not, while paratroopers in Driel after the rest of his command caught still others still had old filter components still attached. up. Hummel lost seven tanks before being pulled off the line. The unit was later attached to 506. Schwere Panzer Hummel was given orders to move out to Arnhem via rail in Abteilung (506th Heavy Tank Battalion) as its fourth heavy order to engage the British, however the railway was

This final scenario is meant to represent all of the remaining assaults on 19-21 September, including Knaust, Hummel and Brinkmann. For the German player, hopefully they have managed to reduce the perimeter sufficiently to be able to capture the last objectives near Frost’s headquarters. Hummel will put pressure on the north, while Brinkmann attacks from the east. Knaust will push from its position near the south of the bridge. Earlier successes in the campaign during Brinkmann and Knaust’s assaults could have an impact here as deployment areas are moved forward to give the Germans a better jump off position. Arnhem has been shelled and the streets are littered Viscious street fighting occured as the German’s overran the perimeter. with the shattered remains of buildings and destroyed vehicles. For Further Reading... Key British strong points have been reduced by the artillery If you are interested in learning more about the operation, inferno and the perimeter will have to be seen to by the be sure to check out these books, movies and websites! Paratrooper commander. Adjust the lines and prepare for action as this is it: the final battle! Books: Frost, John. A Drop Too Many. Stackpole Books, 1994. Kershaw, Robert J.. It Never Snows in September: The German View of Market Garden. Ian Allen Publishing Ltd., 1990. McKee, Alexander. The Race for the Rhine Bridges 1940 1944 1945. Souvenir Press, 1971. Powell, Geoffrey. The Devil’s Birthday: The Bridges to Arnhem 1944. Franklin Watts Publishing, 1984.

Movie: A Bridge Too Far (1977), The adaptation of Cornelius Ryan’s book of the same name. For the most valuable resource regarding Market Garden, be Websites: sure to check out: Defending Arnhem - http://www.defendingarnhem. com/Pegasus Archive - http://www.pegasusarchive.org/ Margry, Karel (Ed). : Then and Now, Vols 1 & 2, Battle of Britain International Ltd, 2002.