Medal of Honor

Following a costly assault boat crossing of the Waal River, the 504th Parachute Regiment had finally captured the Nijmegen bridge intact. Over this span would push the British Guards Armored Division toward the planned link with the embattled British paratroopers …

1944-09-21

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Following a costly assault boat crossing of the Waal River, the 504th Parachute Regiment had finally captured the Nijmegen bridge intact. Over this span would push the British Guards Armored Division toward the planned link with the embattled British paratroopers at Arnhem. But the hold on the bridge was tenuous and the Germans were determined to retake or destroy it. Reinforced by remnants of the 9th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, the Germans launched a series of violent counterattacks on the American bridgehead which grew in intensity throughout the night and early morning. Near noon, a German force consisting of over 100 SS infantry with armor support made a last effort against the left flank of Colonel Tucker's weary paratroopers.

Nijmegen, Netherlands

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-organised 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