Operation Market Garden Arnhem Ambush

Sunday afternoon, 17 September 1944… on the road to Arnhem. Since just after midday men of the British 1st. Airborne Division have been landing by parachute and glider on the outskirts of this Dutch town. Their mission is to capture three bridges across the lower Rhine at Arnhem and hold them for two or three days until relieved by the British XXX Corps advancing up a corridor secured by the American 101st. and 82nd. Airborne Divisions. As news arrived of the British landings Arnhem Garrison Commander General Friedrich Kussin drove to the area to assess for himself the situation. Fatally for him and his companions in his staff car he drove directly into an advancing platoon of British paratroopers led by Lieut. “Jimmy” Cleminson of 3 Para. A concentrated barrage of rifle and machine gun fire soon ended the General’s inspection tour… More about Operation Market Garden: