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| 82nd Airborne Operation Market |
The capture of the bridges at Nijmegen and Grave, together
with some smaller bridges over the Maas-Waal Canal, was tasked to the American
82nd Airborne Division. As part of the protection to the bridges and
the XXX Corps route they were to secure the Groesbeek Heights to the east.
The bridge at Grave was captured, two bridges over the canal
were blown, but a third was captured and the Groesbeek Heights were secured
despite German counter attacks.
The capture of the bridge at Nijmegen did not go to plan.
The Germans resisted the initial attempts by the American Paratroopers. The
Guards Armoured Division linked up with the Americans, but was unable to
dislodge the German defenders.
Eventually Assault boats were brought up and the 504th
Parachute Infantry Regiment under heavy fire crossed the River Waal and
captured the bridge from the north.
At 18:30 the first elements of XXX Corps crossed the bridge
at Nijmegen 36 hours behind schedule and according to the original plan they
should have been in Arnhem.#
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| Nijmagen Bridge |