Arnhem - Locations Visited |
| |
| Renkum Heath - operation "Market Garden", conceived by Montgomery and immortalized in 'A Bridge Too Far', required nine bridges between Eindhoven and Arnhem to be captured by three Allied Airborne Divisions. Along this "carpet" of troops, the British XXX Corps would advance down a single road, relieve the British 1st Airborne Division at the farthest bridge and establish a bridgehead across the Neder Rijn into Germany. Renkum was one of the main Landing (LZs) and Dropping Zones (DZs) for the 1st Airborne Division in its assault on Arnhem. The major disadvantage of this location was its distance of over seven miles from the objectives of the Arnhem road and rail bridges crossing the Neder Rijn. Three parachute battalions were detailed to advance by three separate routes to the bridges code-named Lion, Tiger and Leopard. Only a fraction of the force arrived, the element of surprise was lost and Market Garden failed to shorten the war. |
| |
 Arnhem Bridge - Lt Col John Frost's 2nd Parachute battalion with disparate other elements were the only British troops to reach the north side of the Bridge. It became the scene of bitter fighting as the troops held on desperately against repeated German attacks until, with their ammunition exhausted and casualties mounting, Frost surrendered what remained of his force. The present construction is named in honour of Frost and the Airborne Monument stands on the northern side. |
| |
| Hartenstein Museum - the bulk of General Urquhart's Division eventually found themselves in the suburb of Oosterbeek still a long way distant from their objectives.
As German units responded to the threat posed by the airborne forces, the British formed a defensive perimeter centred upon the Hartenstein Hotel. The Hartenstein became Urquhart's HQ for the duration of the battle. Today the Hartenstein houses a museum dedicated to the battle.
|
| |
| The Tafelberg - ironically, not very far away from the Hartenstein, Field Marshal Model had set up his HQ in the Tafelburg Hotel. Upon hearing of the British arrival the Tafelburg was hastily abandoned. |
| |
| Oosterbeek Cemetery - many of the 1st Airborne Division's casualties are buried here numbering over 2,000 in all. Three VCs are buried in the cemetery as well as members of the Polish Forces who attempted to land across the river at Driel. |
| |
| "Lonsdale's Church" - the Oude Kerk in Oosterbeek overlooked a position close to the banks of the Neder Rijn and was part of the British defensive perimeter. It was vital to hold the church if German attempts to cut off the Airborne Division were to be frustrated. The remnants of disparate units were inspired by the rousing words of Dickie Lonsdale prior to one last effort to stem the attempts to tighten the ring around the defensive perimeter that the Germans themselves christened, "The Cauldron". |
| |
| Westerbouwing - the heights at Westerbouwing offer a superb panorama across the Neder Rijn and overlook a large tract of ground that was held by the British. |
| |
| Onderlangs - the troops fighting their way through to Frost's position were effectively destroyed here by well-sited German guns. St Elizabeth's Hospital, which took many of the casualties, is nearby. |
| |
| The Waal Bridge, Nijmegen - the last before Arnhem was captured by American troops following an heroic amphibious assault across the river. |
| |
| National Liberation Museum - this museum at Groesbeek contains a large-scale relief map explaining the course of the campaign as well as numerous artefacts relating to the campaign as a whole. |
| |
| Groesbeek Canadian Cemetery - the Memorial to the Missing who fell between the Seine and the Rhine is situated in this cemetery. |
| |
| The V-Weapons - the first cinema in the dome area has a 20 minute film about the development of the V1 and V2. There are also two preserved examples of each weapon. |
| |
| Rocket Area - these displays cover rocket technology from 1945 to 1969. The model room contains Titan, Redstone, Atlas, Soyuz, Saturn and Ariane Rockets. |
| |
| Underground Galleries & Launchpad - Russian and Polish forced-labour was used to dig a network of tunnels and galleries to a depth of 42 metres through the chalk. The area known as the Polygon is the location of the unfinished launchpad complex. |
| |
| Life Under Nazi Occupation - a 1930s-style cinema depicts the violence and hardship of the Occupation. |
| |
| |
A typical 5-day itinerary |
| |
| Day 1: Pick-up from school, cross-channel ferry from Dover to Calais followed by travel to to 2-star hotel near Ypres/Lille/Arras. |
| |
| Day 2: Breakfast in hotel followed by travel to Arnhem arriving lunchtime. Afternoon tour of the Bridge area. Check-in to hotel for evening meal. |
| |
| Day 3: Breakfast in hotel. Battlefield Tour followed by return to hotel for evening meal. |
| |
| Day 4: Breakfast in hotel, morning tour of the Groesbeek area, afternoon travel to Ypres and check-in to hotel for evening meal. |
| |
| Day 5: Breakfast in hotel followed by visit to V2 at La Coupole near St Omer. Travel to Calais for cross-channel ferry and return to school. |
| |
| Itineraries can be tailored to your requirements. Contact us now by clicking here. |