September 17th 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of Operation Market Garden. In the autumn of 1944 a swift land and air offensive from the border with Belgium to the towns of Nijmegen and Arnhem via Eindhoven was mounted by allied troops to recover territory from the German occupying forces, particularly the bridges across the river. The Netherlands was expected to be liberated within a matter of a few months, after which the troops were planning to advance towards the Ruhr area (the heart of the German war industry) and Berlin. Instead, the events took a dramatic turn.
The advance along the road from Son to Grave – later renamed ‘Hell’s Highway’ because of the combats – was more difficult than the Allied Forces had anticipated. Despite one of the largest airborne landings ever – near Arnhem, Groesbeek and Eindhoven – the German defence proved to be very strong. Although liberated on September 20th, Nijmegen remained in the frontline. On September 25th 1944 Operation Market Garden faltered during the devastating Battle for Arnhem, causing many casualties and leaving the town in ruins. Hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers lived in miserable circumstances for months, until the liberation on May 5th 1945. More?
www.liberationroute.com
This week the Dutch and their WW2 allies remember Operation Market Garden. Oosterbeek and Arnhem are full of American and English veterans right now. Flags everywhere to welcome them. This flag pole is our neighbourhood. Has the Dutch and English flags as well as the Airborne and others.
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