Hartenstein Hotel 1944 |
Hartenstein Hotel 2013 |
The Germans by now had assessed the overall plan, and had
designated that their main effort would now lie in the establishment of a
defensive line on the River Waal to the south of Arnhem. Their plan was to
reinforce this defensive position and to do so they required the bridge at
Arnhem to remain open. To ensure this, they began to move heavy armour and flak
troops into the Arnhem area to suppress the British operation.
The consequence of this move was to block the 1st
Air landing Brigade and 4th Parachute Brigade from reaching the
bridge, whilst effectively destroying the main body of 1st Parachute
Brigade. Heavy fighting to the north of the railway at Oosterbeek caused the
advance to halt.
Airborne Troops dug in Oosterbeek |
Oosterbeek battle brief |
With the situation at the bridge being perilous, 1st
Parachute Brigade ceasing to be an effective formation, the order was given to
disengage, and begin withdrawing to Oosterbeek to form a defensive perimeter;
the advance to the bridge was abandoned.