My grandad was captured at Arnhem, and taken POW. What he experienced as POW he never spoke about until I was 15, and he helped me with my WW2 project at school.
Dad was 82nd Airborne, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). They captured the Grave and Niemegan bridges. Never spoke about Market Garden until he was very old and knew he was dying. Amazing what the men that were in during Market Garden did. I feel very bad about the British paras at Arnheim. This was totally, in my opinion, Montgomery's mistake.
My uncle who I never met, took part in operation market garden and was in border regiment, attached to B company, 1st airborne battalion glider pilot .. he was severely wounded in westerbouwing area on 20th September and was put on a jeep to be taken to regimental aid post in Dennenoord, but never arrived there, the jeep got ambushed and all 3 on the jeep was killed. he buried at Groesbeek war cemetery, killed 20th September 1944.
I remember meeting many of the GPR veterans in 1994 when I was a serving young soldier, they were at pegusus Bridge,Arnhem etc, they came to see my corp receive its new guidon from CinC HRH Charles. My regret is most are now long gone heros all of them.
I recall one of the many ‘what-ifs’ analysis that have been done on Market Garden being ‘what if Patton had been in command of the army corps tasked to link up at Arnhem’. I went to Osterbeek in 1980 when I was in the Navy and then to Arnhem. I was having a coffee in Arnhem when there was a bit of a fuss and people left the cafe. Walking down the road toward the bridge were one or two old soldiers wearing their red berets, accompanying by I presumed to be family and Dutch friends. It was still relatively fresh in memories and the locals still wanted to come out and shake their hands. I don’t know who they were and I didn’t feel I could pry. Just sit back and think that those airborne veterans may have been my age (23) when they were in action in that place. Very humbling.
I had the honour of driving veterans back to Arnhem in my London taxi. It was the 70th anniversary and I knew very little about Market Garden. My passenger was Josef Wojcehovski of the 1st Polish Parachute Regiment. His 62 year old son was with him as his carer. Josef had to stay in a wheelchair most of the time but his mind was as sharp as a razor. He made us laugh a great deal. I learnt from Josef and the other veterans the story of Arnhem so I learnt it all from the horses mouth. They do not brag about events but rather speak the truth and it could be harrowing. Josef told me that, as a teenager in occupied Poland, he and his family were shipped to Siberia in some deal with Stalin. From there they were moved to Persia where both his parents died. He and his sister were then taken to Egypt. Finally, from there they were taken to Britain. As Josef told me "We landed in bonnie Scotland". From there he was enlisted and trained in Lincolnshire. Over a drink, he told me "Life in Lincolnshire was good and I was happy to see the war out from there but the next thing I knew I was jumping out of a plane over Arnhem." He thought that was funny! His good friend was a tiny man and, during the flight in, became very afraid. "Don't worry" Josef told him "You're so small the Germans will never hit you." Josef was wrong and his friend was dead before they reached the ground. I believe the Polish were dropped, in error, right on top of a German battalion. Josef fell behind a grass mound and managed, somehow, to find his way to safety. Josef survived the war and he and his sister settled in Bradford. He married and had children and, i believe, lived a long and happy life. As our convoy prepared to leave Arnhem, Josef banged his head on my taxi. I think the regimental badge in his beret pierced something on his head because his face was streaked with blood. I helped stem the flow whilst his son ran and got a dressing. His son held it to his head and the whole time Josef was laughing uncontrollably. When he could eventually speak, his son asked him "Why are you laughing?". "Well" said Josef "It occurred to me that I have injured myself more this time than I did the first time." The Dutch people treated these men like movie stars because, to them, they are. Men that go unnoticed in their own countries are revered in Holland. In case you don't know the story, the mission failed. Afterward, the Dutch people were punished by the Germans for helping the allies. They experienced starvation and murder at the hands of the occupiers. For this reason, during my week in Arnhem, several times I heard the same conversation between the heroes and the Dutch. It seemed to be a thing between them and went as follows: Hero: "We brought you nothing but death and starvation." Dutch: "But you tried." After years of German occupation, one can only imagine what they must have felt when they saw and heard the allies coming to free them. Hope is a powerful feeling and, within eight months, the people of Holland were free. It is my honour to say that I knew Josef Wojcehovski and that, for a short while, we were friends.
The Man Holding the radio handset is Jimmy Mcardle a Liverpool man, I had the privilege of spending lots of time with Jim inthe early 2000 s up to his passing in 2009, he also fought in Korea with the Gloucesters, what a life he led , all put their lives on the line, Jimmy Voluntered for Korea he said to me ' he couldn't settle' after the War so went there to Korea as well, shot in the leg but came back thankfully.
It's the most heart warming thing that the Dutch people recognized the ferocity of the fight that 1st Airborne Division gave to the Germans, especially since the Dutch suffered so greatly after the battle ... In that way it was a triumph, of good over evil, the British Paras and the Dutch people both gave a wonderful account of themselves.
My Dad wasn't at Arnhem, he was 6th Airborne Div, he was at D-Day, Breville, Venlo, Ardennes, Rhine crossing. In later life when he could get out much, I bought his Guinness home for him...
It was the Storm Boat Kings, the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, who got many of the airborne soldiers who survived Market Garden to safety across the Rhine.
The three men from the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) at Arnhem were with the main body of the 1st Airborne Division at Oosterbeek and were evacuated with their film and photographs intact.
Market Garden was one of, if not the, fastest Western Allied advance against German opposition in the entire September 1944 to February 1945 period. It also suffered fewer casualties than the other attempts that same autumn, eg Hurtgen Forest, Aachen, Operation Queen, Lorraine etc.
I was in 1994. Did you see the full length photo of a German soldier that was beneath the pavement close to the bridge? It had a perspex top so you could walk over it. I have never seen it mentioned anywhere. It was so lifelike.
The soldier at 6:11 appears to be same one that shows up in Pathe newsreels (British troops cross German Border) as having escaped from Arnhem. The latter newsreels shows him to be a member of the Border Regiment. I believe the shots of the mortar team in action are usually identified as troops being from the Border Regiment as well.
It's the Morris Commercial C8/Portee, officially described as the Truck 4x4 AT Portee (2-pounder), meaning that a 2-pounder anti-tank gun could be carried on the vehicle and taken off when needed. The Airborne Anti-Tank Batteries were originally converted from batteries using the 2-pounder in 1940, and after the Fall of France and experience gained against German armour, they converted to 6-pounder guns. When batteries were converted to the Airborne role, it was found that the 6-pounder could be carried in the Horsa glider with some modification, by reducing the size of the gun shield and removing the axle front armour altogether, but the C8 tractor was obviously too large, so the American Jeep - also slightly modified to fit - was employed instead. When the 17-pounder anti-tank gun was added to the batteries after Sicily to deal with the new generation of Panther and Tiger tanks, the Portees could be re-employed as towing vehicles again, but also had to be cut down to the chassis to fit inside even the giant Hamilcar glider. The weight was 3.3 long tons, or 3,400 Kg and 16 of the C8/17-pounder combinations were sent to Arnhem, two Troops of four guns in each of 1st and 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Batteries supporting 1st and 4th Parachute Brigades respectively, with one Troop supporting the assigned Brigade and the second Troop in each Battery designated for defence of the Division HQ.
What's wrong with trying to end the war earlier? Market Garden was largely planned by others. Brereton, Williams, Hollinghurst, Gavin, Taylor, Urquhart etc.
Hm, this kinda makes it look like Market Garden was a winner instead of the monumental clusterf*k it was. But I guess that wouldn't play too well at the Imperial War Museum. I kept looking at those eager, determined faces & wondering how many of those guys made it out of that mess. How dreadful for that general to waste those brave souls.
Market Garden was actually the fastest allied advance against German opposition in NW Europe in the entire September 1944 to February 1945 period. It took nearly 100km of German held ground in just 3 days. It was more successful and with fewer casualties than the other allied attacks that same autumn. Check out the far bigger disasters of the Lorraine, Hurtgen Forest, Aachen, Operation Queen etc. Market Garden was a masterstroke in comparison.
@@lyndoncmp5751 Yeah despite it failing one cannot deny that it was a very bold plan and it very nearly worked. Had Market Garden succeeded children in europe would have been singing songs about Monty ending the war.
@@lyndoncmp5751 clearly I'll have to read more & better sources. Apologies for my ignorance; after all these years I should know better. I know something of the other disasters you mentioned, but it's been over a decade, all my brain cells my hared aff back into biology. Just reading "Hurtgen forest" & "Aachen" gave me goosebumps. Thank you for informing me with mercy, not as if I was determinedly ignorant. I'll definitely go to different sources. Thanks again, & best to ya!
@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- you're no doubt right; an innovative, bold plan is genius if it works, but if it doesn't succeed....head for the hills (partially to avoid the fallout- & backstabbing!!).
Gen Montgomery s follow. BRITISH AND DUTCH intelligen e knew there were German tanks etc that lightly armed paratroopers could not compete. A waste of great soldiers. Montgomery s total fault .
The tanks weren't there when the paras dropped on the 17th. No German tanks attacked them until late on the second day, the 18th.The tanks came in from Germany. The SS didn't have any available tanks on the 17th. The paras had 6 and 17 pounder anti tank guns and PIATs. They knocked out Panzer IVs, Stug IIIs and even a King Tiger. They were not helpless.
Vat 69 Montgomery was superseded by the air generals. Even though it was his initial broad idea, the air commanders then took over and rejected Montgomerys suggestions and input.
Totally agree, this was total ambition by typical commanders,MR MONTGOMERY,IVE GIVEN THE LOWEST RANK AS POSSIBLE AS MONTGOMERY WAS AWARE OF HEAVY GERMAN PRESENCE INTHE HOLLAND ZONE OF BATTLE,BUT PUSHED AHEAD WITH THE ATTACK.IT WAS AN EGO TRIP OVER AMERICAN LEADERS IF THE BATTLE WAS A BRITISH VICTORY.
@@sugarkane4830 - Yes, British, by that time, the British realized that they never had enough Troops to continue the War effort and that the Americans were dominating the Western Front while the Soviets were making major gains in Norway, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Baltics, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Germany.
@@thevillaaston7811 - because Montgomery could not read maps. If he could he would know about Westervoort and IJssel and therefor he plan would be a failure from the start
@@stevenbos5206 Not really... Being able to Strike to North to the Ijsselmeer would stemmed the flow German supplies to aid V2 attacks on London would, alone have justified MARKET GARDEN.
@@stevenbos5206 Total rubbish. The first V2 rocket attack on London occured on the 8th September 1944. On the 10th September same, Montgomery decided that Arnhem would be included in MARKET GARDEN. 1940 had nothing to do with it.
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My grandad was captured at Arnhem, and taken POW. What he experienced as POW he never spoke about until I was 15, and he helped me with my WW2 project at school.
respect to your grandad.
Dad was 82nd Airborne, 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). They captured the Grave and Niemegan bridges. Never spoke about Market Garden until he was very old and knew he was dying. Amazing what the men that were in during Market Garden did. I feel very bad about the British paras at Arnheim. This was totally, in my opinion, Montgomery's mistake.
tell me
he wasnt by any chance placed in stalag 8c , if so he spent time with my uncle
My uncle who I never met, took part in operation market garden and was in border regiment, attached to B company, 1st airborne battalion glider pilot .. he was severely wounded in westerbouwing area on 20th September and was put on a jeep to be taken to regimental aid post in Dennenoord, but never arrived there, the jeep got ambushed and all 3 on the jeep was killed. he buried at Groesbeek war cemetery, killed 20th September 1944.
My Uncle Robert was in 1st Border B Company, wounded and captured
My grandfather was captured here. He was a true hero as were they all …
I remember meeting many of the GPR veterans in 1994 when I was a serving young soldier, they were at pegusus Bridge,Arnhem etc, they came to see my corp receive its new guidon from CinC HRH Charles.
My regret is most are now long gone heros all of them.
I recall one of the many ‘what-ifs’ analysis that have been done on Market Garden being ‘what if Patton had been in command of the army corps tasked to link up at Arnhem’.
I went to Osterbeek in 1980 when I was in the Navy and then to Arnhem. I was having a coffee in Arnhem when there was a bit of a fuss and people left the cafe. Walking down the road toward the bridge were one or two old soldiers wearing their red berets, accompanying by I presumed to be family and Dutch friends. It was still relatively fresh in memories and the locals still wanted to come out and shake their hands. I don’t know who they were and I didn’t feel I could pry. Just sit back and think that those airborne veterans may have been my age (23) when they were in action in that place. Very humbling.
I had the honour of driving veterans back to Arnhem in my London taxi. It was the 70th anniversary and I knew very little about Market Garden. My passenger was Josef Wojcehovski of the 1st Polish Parachute Regiment. His 62 year old son was with him as his carer. Josef had to stay in a wheelchair most of the time but his mind was as sharp as a razor. He made us laugh a great deal. I learnt from Josef and the other veterans the story of Arnhem so I learnt it all from the horses mouth. They do not brag about events but rather speak the truth and it could be harrowing.
Josef told me that, as a teenager in occupied Poland, he and his family were shipped to Siberia in some deal with Stalin. From there they were moved to Persia where both his parents died. He and his sister were then taken to Egypt. Finally, from there they were taken to Britain. As Josef told me "We landed in bonnie Scotland". From there he was enlisted and trained in Lincolnshire. Over a drink, he told me "Life in Lincolnshire was good and I was happy to see the war out from there but the next thing I knew I was jumping out of a plane over Arnhem." He thought that was funny! His good friend was a tiny man and, during the flight in, became very afraid. "Don't worry" Josef told him "You're so small the Germans will never hit you." Josef was wrong and his friend was dead before they reached the ground. I believe the Polish were dropped, in error, right on top of a German battalion. Josef fell behind a grass mound and managed, somehow, to find his way to safety.
Josef survived the war and he and his sister settled in Bradford. He married and had children and, i believe, lived a long and happy life.
As our convoy prepared to leave Arnhem, Josef banged his head on my taxi. I think the regimental badge in his beret pierced something on his head because his face was streaked with blood. I helped stem the flow whilst his son ran and got a dressing. His son held it to his head and the whole time Josef was laughing uncontrollably. When he could eventually speak, his son asked him "Why are you laughing?". "Well" said Josef "It occurred to me that I have injured myself more this time than I did the first time."
The Dutch people treated these men like movie stars because, to them, they are. Men that go unnoticed in their own countries are revered in Holland. In case you don't know the story, the mission failed. Afterward, the Dutch people were punished by the Germans for helping the allies. They experienced starvation and murder at the hands of the occupiers. For this reason, during my week in Arnhem, several times I heard the same conversation between the heroes and the Dutch. It seemed to be a thing between them and went as follows:
Hero: "We brought you nothing but death and starvation."
Dutch: "But you tried."
After years of German occupation, one can only imagine what they must have felt when they saw and heard the allies coming to free them. Hope is a powerful feeling and, within eight months, the people of Holland were free.
It is my honour to say that I knew Josef Wojcehovski and that, for a short while, we were friends.
Incredible the amount of men and machines we had. Gliders, Bomber transport, men,m arms.
Heroes every one.
The Man Holding the radio handset is Jimmy Mcardle a Liverpool man, I had the privilege of spending lots of time with Jim inthe early 2000 s up to his passing in 2009, he also fought in Korea with the Gloucesters, what a life he led , all put their lives on the line, Jimmy Voluntered for Korea he said to me ' he couldn't settle' after the War so went there to Korea as well, shot in the leg but came back thankfully.
It's the most heart warming thing that the Dutch people recognized the ferocity of the fight that 1st Airborne Division gave to the Germans, especially since the Dutch suffered so greatly after the battle ... In that way it was a triumph, of good over evil, the British Paras and the Dutch people both gave a wonderful account of themselves.
But you limeys forget it was a big defeat period !!!!
Bless them all.
My Dad wasn't at Arnhem, he was 6th Airborne Div, he was at D-Day, Breville, Venlo, Ardennes, Rhine crossing. In later life when he could get out much, I bought his Guinness home for him...
I am living in Arnhem next to the bridge
Mag ik eens langskomen
So did my mother and father during this battle.
Amazing footage. Those poor men! Yet, everyone has a smile on their face. The greatest generation!
i have only seen stills from this but excellent film altogether!
It was the Storm Boat Kings, the 23rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, who got many of the airborne soldiers who survived Market Garden to safety across the Rhine.
Beautifully restored .
I've often wondered about the footage from that day: Was it got out with the survivors, or was it recovered from the Germans after the war?
The three men from the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) at Arnhem were with the main body of the 1st Airborne Division at Oosterbeek and were evacuated with their film and photographs intact.
@@davemac1197 Thanks!
I came with 10 thousand..i left with less than 2k(said Urquhart).. that's why it was a bridge too far..
Market Garden was one of, if not the, fastest Western Allied advance against German opposition in the entire September 1944 to February 1945 period. It also suffered fewer casualties than the other attempts that same autumn, eg Hurtgen Forest, Aachen, Operation Queen, Lorraine etc.
hello market and garden was a real big mistake
I was at arnhem 2019
I was in 1994. Did you see the full length photo of a German soldier that was beneath the pavement close to the bridge? It had a perspex top so you could walk over it. I have never seen it mentioned anywhere. It was so lifelike.
Heroes
The soldier at 6:11 appears to be same one that shows up in Pathe newsreels (British troops cross German Border) as having escaped from Arnhem. The latter newsreels shows him to be a member of the Border Regiment. I believe the shots of the mortar team in action are usually identified as troops being from the Border Regiment as well.
They Dared To Win! ..Real Heroes
Yes
Anyway, what is that vehicle at 5:52 that is towing what I assume to be a 17pdr gun?
It's the Morris Commercial C8/Portee, officially described as the Truck 4x4 AT Portee (2-pounder), meaning that a 2-pounder anti-tank gun could be carried on the vehicle and taken off when needed. The Airborne Anti-Tank Batteries were originally converted from batteries using the 2-pounder in 1940, and after the Fall of France and experience gained against German armour, they converted to 6-pounder guns.
When batteries were converted to the Airborne role, it was found that the 6-pounder could be carried in the Horsa glider with some modification, by reducing the size of the gun shield and removing the axle front armour altogether, but the C8 tractor was obviously too large, so the American Jeep - also slightly modified to fit - was employed instead.
When the 17-pounder anti-tank gun was added to the batteries after Sicily to deal with the new generation of Panther and Tiger tanks, the Portees could be re-employed as towing vehicles again, but also had to be cut down to the chassis to fit inside even the giant Hamilcar glider. The weight was 3.3 long tons, or 3,400 Kg and 16 of the C8/17-pounder combinations were sent to Arnhem, two Troops of four guns in each of 1st and 2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Batteries supporting 1st and 4th Parachute Brigades respectively, with one Troop supporting the assigned Brigade and the second Troop in each Battery designated for defence of the Division HQ.
05:26 poor dude, his parachute dont work
I remember this
The NSB had a lot of members in 1940-1945 only a few citizens were in the resistance.
Music credit?
Arme Kerle, viele sind umgekommen
Salut
V for vics formation, different than the film
De vader van mijn zus is vanuit juno beach aan land gekomen en zo na Nederland gevochten en samen met de black wachts nijmegen bevreid
Market garden are Monty's ambition
What's wrong with trying to end the war earlier?
Market Garden was largely planned by others. Brereton, Williams, Hollinghurst, Gavin, Taylor, Urquhart etc.
Hm, this kinda makes it look like Market Garden was a winner instead of the monumental clusterf*k it was. But I guess that wouldn't play too well at the Imperial War Museum. I kept looking at those eager, determined faces & wondering how many of those guys made it out of that mess. How dreadful for that general to waste those brave souls.
Market Garden was actually the fastest allied advance against German opposition in NW Europe in the entire September 1944 to February 1945 period.
It took nearly 100km of German held ground in just 3 days.
It was more successful and with fewer casualties than the other allied attacks that same autumn.
Check out the far bigger disasters of the Lorraine, Hurtgen Forest, Aachen, Operation Queen etc.
Market Garden was a masterstroke in comparison.
@@lyndoncmp5751 Yeah despite it failing one cannot deny that it was a very bold plan and it very nearly worked. Had Market Garden succeeded children in europe would have been singing songs about Monty ending the war.
Take a look at the battle of the Rapido?
@@lyndoncmp5751 clearly I'll have to read more & better sources. Apologies for my ignorance; after all these years I should know better. I know something of the other disasters you mentioned, but it's been over a decade, all my brain cells my hared aff back into biology. Just reading "Hurtgen forest" & "Aachen" gave me goosebumps. Thank you for informing me with mercy, not as if I was determinedly ignorant. I'll definitely go to different sources. Thanks again, & best to ya!
@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- you're no doubt right; an innovative, bold plan is genius if it works, but if it doesn't succeed....head for the hills (partially to avoid the fallout- & backstabbing!!).
Either Monty was working for the Germans or he was a glory seeking psycho
Lions led by donkeys. Most overrated general in the war - Monty
@klleong7051 Patton is just as overrated.
The most overrated general & promotion chaser was Mark Clark.
@@optimusminimus-v3d Mark clark for me is the worst
Gen Montgomery s follow. BRITISH AND DUTCH intelligen e knew there were German tanks etc that lightly armed paratroopers could not compete. A waste of great soldiers. Montgomery s total fault .
actually it was Browning, Montgomery wasn't even there, don't ask me why.
The tanks weren't there when the paras dropped on the 17th. No German tanks attacked them until late on the second day, the 18th.The tanks came in from Germany. The SS didn't have any available tanks on the 17th.
The paras had 6 and 17 pounder anti tank guns and PIATs. They knocked out Panzer IVs, Stug IIIs and even a King Tiger. They were not helpless.
Vat 69
Montgomery was superseded by the air generals. Even though it was his initial broad idea, the air commanders then took over and rejected Montgomerys suggestions and input.
Totally agree, this was total ambition by typical commanders,MR MONTGOMERY,IVE GIVEN THE LOWEST RANK AS POSSIBLE AS MONTGOMERY WAS AWARE OF HEAVY GERMAN PRESENCE INTHE HOLLAND ZONE OF BATTLE,BUT PUSHED AHEAD WITH THE ATTACK.IT WAS AN EGO TRIP OVER AMERICAN LEADERS IF THE BATTLE WAS A BRITISH VICTORY.
The Englanders where fighting German Boys in Uniform.
Well apart from the SS troops that were there. Goodness me if you want to pontificate. Get it right.
Oh and it’s British. They were British troops.
@@sugarkane4830 - Yes, British, by that time, the British realized that they never had enough Troops to continue the War effort and that the Americans were dominating the Western Front while the Soviets were making major gains in Norway, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Baltics, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Germany.
Arrogance , of Montgomery and the objective, was not achieved, tacticians take note.!
What arrogance?
@@thevillaaston7811 - because Montgomery could not read maps. If he could he would know about Westervoort and IJssel and therefor he plan would be a failure from the start
@@stevenbos5206
Not really...
Being able to Strike to North to the Ijsselmeer would stemmed the flow German supplies to aid V2 attacks on London would, alone have justified MARKET GARDEN.
@@thevillaaston7811 - The Afsluitdijk to the North was already there in 1940 so your supply theory does not work.
@@stevenbos5206
Total rubbish.
The first V2 rocket attack on London occured on the 8th September 1944. On the 10th September same, Montgomery decided that Arnhem would be included in MARKET GARDEN.
1940 had nothing to do with it.