The Vital Hours

MARKET-GARDEN planners, unwilling to expose vital transport planes to anti-aircraft fire over Arnhem, chose landing and drop zones for 1st Airborne Division significantly west of the Arnhem road bridge. Consequently, 1st Parachute Brigade would have to cover nearly seven miles on foot to reach its primary target. …

1944-09-17

WO37

MARKET-GARDEN planners, unwilling to expose vital transport planes to anti-aircraft fire over Arnhem, chose landing and drop zones for 1st Airborne Division significantly west of the Arnhem road bridge. Consequently, 1st Parachute Brigade would have to cover nearly seven miles on foot to reach its primary target. Three routes - dubbed "Leopard", "Tiger", and "Lion" - were used for the three battalion sized columns. "Lion", the southernmost route, proved to be relatively resistance-free and the lead units of Colonel John Frost's 2nd Parachute Battalion reached the bridge around 8 PM. SS-Panzergrenadier Training and Replacement Battalion 16 was stationed in Arnhem and Oosterbeek. Its 2nd Company had conducted a training exercise just that morning east of Wolfheze. They had arrived in early September and had been told to prepare to defend against possible airborne attack. Lacking the strength to block all the routes, the Germans set up a defensive line across two, "Leopard" and "Tiger".

Wolfheze, Holland

The Battle of Arnhem was a major battle of the Second World War at the vanguard of the Allied Operation Market Garden. It was fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze and Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944.

British

German

Scenario Type = Standard