Counterattack at Beek

Three days into Operation Market Garden, and the 82nd Airborne Division is knee-deep in vicious fighting in and around the Dutch city of Nijmegen. While the 504th and 505th PIRs battle for control of the Waal road bridge, the 508th …

1944-09-20

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Three days into Operation Market Garden, and the 82nd Airborne Division is knee-deep in vicious fighting in and around the Dutch city of Nijmegen. While the 504th and 505th PIRs battle for control of the Waal road bridge, the 508th PIR is tasked with holding the right flank. The 508th is spread thin and a German counterattack looms. Roughly two miles south-east of Nijmegen lies the small border town of Beek. On this day, it will be the scene of fierce fighting, as the Germans launch their counterattack. The fighting would continue for days with the village changing hands multiple times.

Beek, 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

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