Varsity Blues

As Field Marshal Montgomery prepares his 21st Army for the crossing of the Rhine, Operation Varsity, the largest airborne assault of the war, is launched by the US 17th Airborne and the British 6th Airborne Divisions. The parachute assault’s aim …

1945-03-24

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As Field Marshal Montgomery prepares his 21st Army for the crossing of the Rhine, Operation Varsity, the largest airborne assault of the war, is launched by the US 17th Airborne and the British 6th Airborne Divisions. The parachute assault’s aim is to eliminate the German defenders on the heights above the river and ease the crossing of Montgomery's armored columns to the east bank. The 1st Bn, 507th PIR drops on target and is on the way to its day-I objective, Diersfordt Castle, when it encounters stiff Resistance from elements of the 84th Infantry Division in the Diersfordt Forest.

Diersfordt, Germany

Operation Varsity was a successful airborne forces operation launched by Allied troops that took place toward the end of World War II. Involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location.

Wikipedia: Operation Varsity

German

Americans