Welcome
ISSUE 137
Four British paratroopers escape across the Rhine during Market Garden
© Getty
SCAN TO GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Operation Market Garden, launched 80 years ago, has gone down in histor y as an equally audacious and tragically flawed campaign. It began with the goal of striking a decisive blow across the Rhine, accelerating the liberation of the Netherlands, the advance into Germany and ultimately – hopefully – Germany’s surrender. Instead the Allied commanders were faced with a costly setback, with thousands killed, captured or wounded, while Dutch citizens were left with months of further occupation, as well as retributions and even famine. In its final days the operation focused on the sur vival and withdrawal of Allied forces in the village of Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem. Here Airborne and Glider Pilot forces held a desperate defensive line against over whelming German attacks.