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Operation "Market Garden" +73
Years
September 2017 was the month of the
73rd anniversary of Operation
"Market Garden", the Allied plan to
end World War Two in 1944.
73 Years after Operation "Market
Garden", several events were held in
the Dutch provinces of Gelderland
and North-Brabant to commemorate the
liberation of the towns and cities
along Hell's Highway from the
Belgian border South of Eindhoven
North to Arnhem and beyond.
BattleDetective.com witnessed some
of these events commemorating this
battle. Below we report our findings
of "Operation Market Garden
1944-2017". |
Saturday, September 2nd 2017
Today saw the 71st edition of the
annual Airborne March at Oosterbeek
in which we participated for the
14th time. |
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71st Edition of
the annual Airborne March |
Sunday, September 17th 2017
Two weekends later we attended a
special book dropping and subsequent
presentation event of “Burning
Bridges” and “Bridges are Ours” (D-Day
Publishing; ISBN
978-2-9540297-3-3 / 6) by Michel
DeTrez and Peter Hendrikx at Klein
Amerika outside of Groesbeek near
Nijmegen.
During a special introduction event
on one of the original Drop Zones of
the American 82nd Airborne Division,
two brand new books, “Burning
Bridges” (volume 1) and “Bridges Are
Ours” (volume 2) were presented. Two
sticks of jumpers of the Round
Canopy Parachuting Team carried
several sets of books with them
during their descent. The
publication contains 976 pages and
over 1,600 photographs describing
the actions of the 82nd Airborne
Division during Operation “Market
Garden”. |
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Our friends of
Yank Reenactment provided
transportation to the DZ |
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“Burning Bridges” deals with the
preparations in the marshalling
areas in England, the activities of
the Pathfinders, the boarding of the
aircraft by all parachute and glider
troops followed by the actual drops
and landings at the DZ's and LZ’s as
well as the first two days of
combat. The landings of the 505th
and 508th Regiments on DZ's "N" and
"T" in Groesbeek, east of Nijmegen
are also covered.
"Bridges are Ours" begins with the
fight for the Nijmegen bridges. When
the German defenders would not give
in, the 504th Regiment was ordered
to cross the Waal River in small
boats, one of the most heroic
actions of World War Two. The book
continues with the defensive battles
of various units of the division.
The final chapter provides a
critical assessment of the leading
commanders of Operation "Market
Garden".
The first copy was presented to
Clinton E. Riddle, "B" Company, 325th Glider Infantry
Regiment.
Clinton is seen here on the left,
sitting next to Medic John R.
Coates, "C" Company, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment. |
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John initialed his
photo on page 410 of the book:
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We had our
copy of both volumes signed by the
authors and then quickly hurried to
the Area of Operations of the 101st
Airborne Division for the annual
“Remember September” wreath laying
ceremonies of the
Society of Dutch Airborne Friends.
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Michel Detrez (l.) and Peter
Hendikx (r.) signed our copy |
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An impression of
the ceremonies held at
Sint-Oedenrode, Son, Eindhoven,
Best, Heeswijk-Dinther and Eerde |
Monday, September 18th 2017
This evening we went to see the
closing part of the annual Torch
Parade commemorating the liberation
of Eindhoven on September 18th 1944.
We also attended the subsequent
reception in the city hall.
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Torch Parade and
Reception at Eindhoven's City Hall
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