Nijmegen Bridges

It was hoped that the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers would be able to take the strongly held Nijmegen bridges during the early phases of Operation Market Garden, but other priorities and drops that put most of the Paras miles from their …

1944-09-20

1302

It was hoped that the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers would be able to take the strongly held Nijmegen bridges during the early phases of Operation Market Garden, but other priorities and drops that put most of the Paras miles from their target, thwarted any serious attempts. The bridges would have to wait for the arrival of XXX Corp. On September 20th, XXX Corp. mounted an attack on the Nijmegen road bridge, while the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in assault boats hit the Fort protecting the railroad bridge and then turned east. The railroad bridge was taken intact from both ends. As British tanks advanced toward the road bridge, the retreating Germans gave the order to blow it, but in a stroke of luck for the Allies, the demolition charges did not detonate and it also was captured.

Nijmegen, Holland

The Battle of Nijmegen or Liberation of Nijmegen occurred in the Netherlands from 17 to 20 September 1944, as part of Operation Market Garden during World War II. The Allies' primary goal was to capture the two bridges over the Waal River at Nijmegen – the road route over the Waalbrug (Waal Bridge) and Nijmegen railway bridge – and relieve the British 1st Airborne Division and Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade at Arnhem, 10 miles (16 km) north of Nijmegen. The Allied infantry units at Arnhem were surrounded by German forces, and involved in heavy fighting for control of bridges over the Rhine. Delays caused by hastily-organized German reinforcements at Nijmegen ultimately led to the failure of Operation Market Garden. It took the Allies longer than expected to secure a land route to Arnhem, where the British and Polish forces were forced south of the Rhine and sustained massive casualties. In addition, fighting at Nijmegen cost hundreds of civilian lives, and caused significant damage to many buildings in the city.

Wikipedia: Battle of Nijmegen

German

American / British

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Countryside

Website Access: Available