OPERATION MARKET GARDEN

HISTORIC BATTLE

The Airborne Museum is housed in a monumental building: the former Hartenstein Hotel, which was built in 1865. It was a nice place to stay – a fact that was appreciated by some of the staff serving Walter Model, the German field marshal who was in charge of the area around Arnhem during the Second World War.

Model had temporarily established the headquarters of Heeresgruppe West in Oosterbeek, but on 17 September 1944 had to leave the village in a hurry. The British had been dropped behind German lines – and they had an ambitious mission: to capture the bridge at Arnhem and hold it until ground forces arrived from the south. Then they would push through to Germany and bring the war to a swift end.

The morale of the British and Polish soldiers (who were dropped later near Driel) was sky-high. But Operation Market Garden – the largest airborne landing operation ever – was a failure that cost thousands of lives. More than 12,000 men were dropped near Ede, but only 2,200 made it back home.

Hartenstein played a central role in the action. John Frost reached the bridge with just over 700 men and held it briefly. The British had to withdraw and set up a line of defence around Hartenstein. The hotel became their headquarters, where Major General Urquhart was in command. He was able to hold it for only a short time because the Germans were too strong. The Allies slipped away across the Rhine by night.