Operation Market Garden

Nijmegen City & Bridge

"A Bridge Too Far" the title of Cornelius Ryan's famous book can best describes "Operation Market Garden". Market the Airborne phase, which was the largest Airborne invasion in history. It was to land with thunderclap surprise and take many bridges in Holland that would lead to the Ruhr, the German Industrial heartland, thus ending the war before Christmas 1944. The 101st landed in the area of Eindhoven and was to take several bridges in that area including the Son Bridge and the highway bridge at Eindhoven. The 82nd landed in the Nijmegen area and were responsible for taking the Grave Bridge and the big highway bridge at Nijmegen. The British 1st Airborne Division, (The Red Devils) were to land and take the prize the bridge at Arnhem. With these objectives all taken British XXX Corps (Tanks) the Garden portion was to thunder down the single lane highway and back up the lightly armed paratroopers.

The invasion was the brainchild of Field Marshal Montgomery. The American Airborne took its objectives. Actually the British Paratroopers themselves held for longer than would have been thought humanly possible. The reasons for the failure of this operation are still debated today.

The Grave Bridge that in 1944 was the Continents longest bridge was taken quickly by the 504th landing on both sides of the bridge with drop zones in close proximity (less then a mile).

The tactic of landing on both sides of the bridge as was done at Grave was not allowed to happen at the Nijmegen Bridge because the Groesbeek heights were considered more important and Gen. Gavin agreed that he did not have the proper man power to secure both objectives on D-Day. The Groesbeek heights are a plateau some three hundred feet above the surrounding area, which dominated the approaches to Nijmegen. Gen. Browning ordered and Gen. Gavin agreed that this high ground had to be taken before the Nijmegen Bridges.

German Defender KIA on the Nijmegen Highway Bridge.Courtesy of the Ryan Archives Ohio University.

As a result of this lack of man power, the 82nd had not yet taken the Nijmegen Highway Bridge. This was desperately needed to get Market Garden back on schedule and relieve the British at Arnhem. A desperate assault crossing of the river was necessary but "An assault crossing of the river was necessary but it was a seemingly impossible task because it required moving in boats across the 400-yard wide river against German 88's Flak wagons, 20mm cannons, machine guns and riflemen. Nonetheless, the crossing was launched. On September 20, the 3d Battalion of the 504th PIR, followed by 1st Battalion, performed the death-defying feat of reaching the enemy held north bank by boat across the rushing Waal River. The first wave of paratroopers who launched in the assault boats lost half of their members to the fierce enemy gunfire and the raging river. But 200 men charged ashore and established a firm bridgehead from which the units carried the battle to the enemy and captured the bridge from the far side. However, only 11 of the 26 boats that comprised the initial wave were in condition to return across the river to deliver succeeding waves. A British General, after witnessing the 504th crossing the Waal, characterized the attack with a single word as he shook his head and said, "Unbelievable.""(Source Devils in Baggy Pants).

After the initial days of the battle the Airborne troops were kept on line. The British had built up Hell's Highway by the first week in October so strongly that the 101st Airborne was not needed in that area. The 101 were shifted ahead of the 82nd across the Waal.The 82nd was defending the Groesbeek Heights but was also shifted with the 101st to the area on The Island. This is a cardinal sin to have Airborne troops in defensive position. You chew up specially trained assault troops that are difficult to replace. On November 11 the 82nd was pulled back from Holland D + 57 Days.

The Story of Pfc. Theodore H.Bacheneheimer

Bachenheimer story under construction