Arnhem and Operation Market Garden

Eurostar London St Pancras to Brussels (or join tour at Brussels South/Midi Station). Drive to Joe’s bridge on the Meuse-Escaut Canal to discuss the launch of ‘Garden’ the ground advance through the Valkensvaard tank ambushes to Eindhoven. Check-in to our hotel in Eindhoven for one night. (D)

We follow ‘Hell’s Highway’ from the 101st (US) Airborne ‘Market’ drop zones across the Son Bridge to the 82nd (US) Airborne seizure of the bridge at Grave. We analyse the assault river crossing of the massive Waal Bridge at Nijmegen and the tenacious defence of its citadel by the 10th SS Division. Our day is capped by a visit to the stimulating Groesbeek Freedom Museum with its multifaceted outlook on the conflict. Continue to Arnhem and check-in to our hotel for four nights. (B, D)

We explore the 1st airborne Division landings west of Arnhem and its attempts to reach the bridge across the lower Rhine. We undertake a walking examination of the capture and heroic defence of the Arnhem bridge by 2nd Para, against overwhelming attacks by SS infantry and panzers. (B, D)

We visit the Hartenstein 1st Airborne Division headquarters and Airborne Museum and discuss the tenacious British defence of the epic airborne perimeter. We then move down to Oosterbeek to view the Lower Rhine and the creation of the small pocket of defence which, bombarded relentlessly by German armaments, came to be known as the ‘Cauldron’. The day finishes at the Air Despatcher Memorial and poignant Oosterbeek War Cemetery. (B, D)

Our exploration of the tenacious defence of the Oosterbeek Perimeter continues as walk and drive between key sites. At Hackett's Hollow we try to image the plight of around 150 British Paratroopers, pinned down for over 8 hours by enemy fire in a woodland hollow, before bravely breaking out and at the KSOB ‘White House’ see where Scottish troops doggedly resisted one fierce attack after another. The courage of the Cauldron’s defenders is underlined by the number of VCs awarded and we learn about Lance Sergeant John Baskeyfield and Major Robert Cain who, in separate actions, succeeded in destroying or disabling heavy armoured vehicles. Our day concludes at Oosterbeek Church where we contemplate the Allied evacuation and the German retaliation and retribution. (B, D)

We stop at Driel where we discuss the forlorn hope of the Polish parachute landings and the final British evacuation across the river before continuing to Brussels Midi Station for our late afternoon Eurostar train to London St Pancras. (B)