Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was an Allied operation in World War II, in September of 1944. It was attempted to take bridge over the main rivers of German-occupied the Netherlands, enabling the Allies to advance into Germany without major natural obstacles. The operation was successful up to the capture of the Rhine bridge at Arnhem.

The operation involved the largest airborne drops in history, with American troops landing at Eindhoven to capture canal bridges near Veghel, and near the Meuse and Waal rivers. British and Polish troops would land near the Rhine bridge at Arnhem, about 100 km behine the front line. In the mean while, a land army would break into the Netherlands to relieve the paratroopers at the bridges.

The operation started on September 17, 1944. While most airborne forces where able to achieve their goals, the progress of the land forces was not as quick as expected.

The troops landed at Arnhem had been dropped far off their target, and had encountered German panzer divisions. They were, however, able to hold on until the fourth day, at which the land army was supposed to arrive, which did not happen. on September 26, the forces still had not arrived, and the airborne troops were ordered to retreat to Allied held territory, with great loss: only a fourth of the 10,000 troops returned, with 6,000 captured and the rest killed. This marked the end and failure of Operation Market Garden.

The story of Operation Market Garden is, among others, told in the movie One bridge too far.