A Bridge Too Far

Operation Market Garden is a daring military endeavor that sees 35,000 soldiers flown 300 miles (480 km) from English airfields, dropped behind enemy lines in the Netherlands. The planning involves two divisions of US paratroopers, tasked with securing key roads and bridges extending towards Nijmegen. Notably, a British division, commanded by Major-General Roy Urquhart, aims to land close to Arnhem and seize the bridge there, with assistance from a brigade of Polish paratroopers led by General Stanisław Sosabowski to enhance their efforts.

As General Urquhart assembles his officers for a briefing, some express astonishment at the lengthy landing distance from their objectives. The consensus suggests they are up against nothing but inexperienced old men and Hitler Youth, yet reconnaissance photographs reveal the presence of German tanks in Arnhem. Despite this, General Browning dismisses these findings and overlooks crucial intelligence reports from the Dutch underground.

The Arnhem bridge stands as the operation’s prime target, representing the last escape route for German forces operating within the Netherlands, also serving as a direct corridor to Germany. However, it’s worth noting that approaching this strategic point involves navigating a narrow, single-lane road connecting essential bridges, where vehicles must often squeeze alongside the verge to pass. The elevated nature of this road further complicates matters, making any movement along it highly conspicuous.

While the airborne drops manage to catch the enemy off guard with minimal immediate resistance, the Son bridge meets a swift demise at the hands of the Germans moments before it can be secured. Compounding the difficulties, numerous jeeps fail to arrive, while others fall prey to an ambush, and several radio sets malfunction.

Meanwhile, the progress of XXX Corps encounters significant obstacles due to German opposition, the road’s constricted width, and the necessity of constructing a Bailey bridge to compensate for the destroyed bridge at Son. The advance stalls at Nijmegen, where brave soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division conduct a daring daylight crossing to secure the vital Nijmegen bridge. This further delays XXX Corps, which must now await infantry support to capture the town.

As the Germans tighten their grip on the isolated British paratroopers around the Arnhem bridge, the arrival of Sosabowski’s delayed troops from England proves too late to bolster Urquhart’s men. After enduring several days of relentless combat against SS infantry and armored units, the under-equipped forces find themselves outmanned and ultimately forced to retreat to Oosterbeek. Urquhart receives orders to withdraw, while other Allied commanders attribute their failures to the multitude of challenges they faced.

In a heartbreaking turn, Urquhart escapes with fewer than a fifth of his original contingent of 10,000 soldiers, while the severely wounded remain behind to enable the withdrawal. Back at British headquarters, a tense confrontation occurs when Urquhart challenges Browning about his earlier sentiments regarding the operation, only to find the latter now at odds with his previous optimism.

Meanwhile, in Oosterbeek, Kate ter Horst, whose home has been transformed into a makeshift hospital for the British, prepares to abandon the ruins of her dwelling. Navigating through a yard that now serves as a final resting place for fallen soldiers, she, along with her children and an elderly doctor, gather a few belongings, pulling them along in a cart. All the while, wounded British troops can be heard singing > “Abide with Me” as they await their inevitable capture.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 18:33