First Airborne Division Landing Zones September 1944

As part of Operation Market Garden, aimed at encircling Germany’s industrial heartland, the Ruhr, British and Polish paratroopers were dropped in the vicinity of Arnhem and Oosterbeek. Their objective was to secure bridges in the area in preparation for the arrival of XXX Corps. The British division and its equipment had to be deployed near the towns in three different drops over two days due to aircraft shortages. This resulted in the first group having to split in order to reach the bridge and simultaneously protect the guns at the drop site. The group who were left to secure the bridge encountered heavy resistance and ended up being overwhelmed, while the rest of the division was trapped to the north of the river and were eventually evacuated. XXX Corps failed to advance as quickly as anticipated and was unable to relieve the airborne troops.