Hell's Highway: U.S. 101st Airborne & Guards Armoured Division
By Tim Saunders
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About this ebook
After the Allied victory at Normandy, Operation Market Garden was intended to cut a path to Germany through the Netherlands. Essential to the plan was a two-lane road that came to be known as Hell's Highway. This was the route that the British 3rd Guards Armored Division had to advance down rapidly to relieve the American Paratroopers of the 82d Airborne at Nijmegen and the British I st Airborne Division at Arnhem.
Beginning with the famous capture of Joe’s Bridge by the Irish Guards—an essential preliminary action before the start of Operation Market Garden—historian Tim Saunders guides visitors through the seizure of bridges, the liberation of small towns, and other actions undertaken by the famous Screaming Eagles. With vivid personal accounts throughout, this guide features practical visitor information about monuments and other important sites.
Tim Saunders
Tim Saunders served as an infantry officer with the British Army for thirty years, during which time he took the opportunity to visit campaigns far and wide, from ancient to modern. Since leaving the Army he has become a full time military historian, with this being his sixteenth book, has made nearly fifty full documentary films with Battlefield History and Pen & Sword. He is an active guide and Accredited Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.
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Hell's Highway - Tim Saunders
Other guides in the Battleground Europe Series:
Walking the Salient by Paul Reed
Ypres - Sanctuary Wood and Hooge by Nigel Cave
Ypres - Hill 60 by Nigel Cave
Ypres - Messines Ridge by Peter Oldham
Ypres - Polygon Wood by Nigel Cave
Ypres - Passchendaele by Nigel Cave
Ypres - Airfields and Airmen by Michael O’Connor
Ypres - St Julien by Graham Keech
Walking the Somme by Paul Reed
Somme - Gommecourt by Nigel Cave
Somme - Serre by Jack Horsfall & Nigel Cave
Somme - Beaumont Hamel by Nigel Cave
Somme - Thiepval by Michael Stedman
Somme - La Boisselle by Michael Stedman
Somme - Fricourt by Michael Stedman
Somme - Carnoy-Montauban by Graham Maddocks
Somme - Pozieres by Graham Keech
Somme - Courcelette by Paul Reed
Somme - Boom Ravine by Trevor Pidgeon
Somme - Mametz Wood by Michael Renshaw
Somme - Delville Wood by Nigel Cave
Somme - Advance to Victory (North) 1918 by Michael Stedman
Somme - Flers by Trevor Pidgeon
Somme - Bazentin Ridge by Edward Hancock
Arras - Vimy Ridge by Nigel Cave
Arras - Gavrelle by Trevor Tasker and Kyle Tallett
Arras - Bullecourt by Graham Keech
Arras - Monchy le Preux by Colin Fox
Hindenburg Line by Peter Oldham
Hindenburg Line Epehy by Bill Mitchinson
Hindenburg Line Riqueval by Bill Mitchinson
Hindenburg Line Villers-Plouich by Bill Mitchinson
Hindenburg Line - Cambrai by Jack Horsfall & Nigel Cave
Hindenburg Line - Saint Quentin by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest
La Bassée - Neuve Chapelle by Geoffrey Bridger
Mons by Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave
Accrington Pals Trail by William Turner
Poets at War: Wilfred Owen by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest
Poets at War: Edmund Blunden by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest
Poets at War: Sassoon & Graves by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest
Gallipoli by Nigel Steel
Italy - Asiago by Francis Mackay
Boer War - The Relief of Ladysmith by Lewis Childs
Boer War - The Siege of Ladysmith by Lewis Childs
Boer War - Kimberley by Lewis Childs
Isandlwana by Ian Knight and Ian Castle
Rorkes Drift by Ian Knight and Ian Castle
Hougoumont by Julian Paget and Derek Saunders
WW2 Pegasus Bridge/Merville Battery by Carl Shilleto
WW2 Utah Beach by Carl Shilleto
WW2 Gold Beach by Christopher Dunphie & Garry Johnson
WW2 Omaha Beach by Tim Kilvert-Jones
WW2 Sword Beach by Tim Kilvert-Jones
WW2 Battle of the Bulge - St Vith by Michael Tolhurst
WW2 Battle of the Bulge - Bastogne by Michael Tolhurst
WW2 Dunkirk by Patrick Wilson
WW2 Calais by Jon Cooksey
WW2 Das Reich – Drive to Normandy by Philip Vickers
WW2 Hill 112 by Tim Saunders
WW2 Market Garden - Nijmegen by Tim Saunders
WW2 Market Garden - Hell’s Highway by Tim Saunders
Battleground Europe Series guides under contract for future release:
Somme - High Wood by Terry Carter
Somme - German Advance 1918 by Michael Stedman
Somme - Combles by Paul Reed
Somme - Beaucourt by Michael Renshaw
Walking Arras by Paul Reed
WW2 Boulogne by Jon Cooksey
Wars of the Roses - Wakefield/ Towton by Philip A. Haigh
WW2 Market Garden - The Island by Tim Saunders
WW2 Normandy - Jig Beach by Tim Saunders
With the continued expansion of the Battleground series a Battleground Series Club has been formed to benefit the reader. The purpose of the Club is to keep members informed of new titles and to offer many other reader-benefits. Membership is free and by registering an interest you can help us predict print runs and thus assist us in maintaining the quality and prices at their present levels.
Please call the office 01226 734555, or send your name and address along with a request for more information to:
Battleground Series Club Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS
Cover painting by James Dietz, WRATH OF THE RED DEVILS, Operation Market Garden, September, 1944.
To my son William Saunders
with love
Published by
LEO COOPER
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Limited
47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS
Copyright © Tim Saunders 2001
ISBN 0 85052 837 2
eISBN 978 1 78303 663 9
A CIP record of this book is available
from the British Library
Printed in the United Kingdom by
CPI UK
For up-to-date information on other titles produced under the Leo Cooper
imprint, please telephone or write to:
Pen & Sword Books Ltd, FREEPOST SF5, 47 Church Street
Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2BR
Telephone 01226 734555
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Advice for Visitors
Chapter 1: JOE’S BRIDGE
The Irish Guards seize a vital bridge
Chapter 2: BACKGROUND AND THE MARKET GARDEN PLAN
Alliance politics, logistics and Montgomery’s plan
Chapter 3: BREAKOUT TO VALKENSWAARD
The wait, the ambush and the halt at Valkenswaard
Chapter 4: THE ADVANCE TO EINDHOVEN AND THE SON BRIDGE
The Guards’ advance continues and the liberation of Eindhoven
Chapter 5: 101st US AIRBORNE AT SON
The blowing of the Son Bridge and 107 Panzer Brigade’s attack
Chapter 6: BEST - THE UNPLANNED BATTLE
An unequal battle on the flanks
Chapter 7: ST OEDENRODE
The drop and capture of the town
Chapter 8: VEGHEL
The misdrop, capture and defence of the town
Chapter 9: SCHIJNDEL
The big trap that was not to be
Chapter 10: VEGHEL-CLOSURE OF HELL’S HIGHWAY
Hell’s Highway is cut at a vital moment
Chapter 11: THE CUT AT KOEVERING
The final cut that crushed Montgomery’s dream
Appendix I Closure of Hell’s Highway
Appendix II Order of Battle
Appendix III Cemeteries
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to veterans on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly those of 101st Airborne Division, for their help in preparing this book. Much has been written over the fifty years since the dramatic events of September 1944. However, much of the material has proved to be superficial, contradictory and often simply incorrect but veterans’ contributions and examination of archives have helped clear up a number of issues and myths. Again, I am indebted to the hard-pressed staff of the regimental headquarters of the British units, whose forebears’ battles are covered in this book. They have been most helpful, overworked regimental secretaries or highly knowledgeable volunteers have been a mine of information and guidance. Across the Atlantic, veterans’ associations have helped me with official and personal accounts. Visits to the Public Record Office and airborne museums in Britain and Holland to view their archives were essential and I unreservedly thank them for their help.
I would like to thank the many Dutch people who helped me locate and gain access to some of the more obscure sites and for providing me with numerous maps and photographs. It would take too long to name them here but their greatest contribution has been their warmth and friendliness. Sources in Germany, have helped guide me to records of Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe units, including to some of the many ad hoc formations and units taking part in the fighting on Hell’s Highway
Again, I am indebted to both family and friends for their tolerant support and encouragement, while I researched and wrote this book. I am most grateful for the time they spent spotting my errors and inconsistencies, while reading through all too many drafts of the manuscript. Thank you one and all.
Tim Saunders
Lichfield, Staffs
INTRODUCTION
This volume of the Battleground Europe series starts with one of the most celebrated events of the North West-European Campaign, the spectacular capture of Joe’s Bridge by the Irish Guards. Though, strictly, not a part of MARKET GARDEN, it is an important and exciting precursor. This is followed by an explanation of the controversial and optimistic assumptions made by 21st Army Group and the Airborne Army’s planning staff and the difficult logistic and Alliance issues that General Eisenhower had to deal with. However, the meat of the book covers the part played in operation MARKET GARDEN by 101st US Airborne and the British Guards Armoured Divisions in the heady days of September 1944, following the German defeat in Normandy. The first phase of the battle was the seizure of the river and canal bridges on twenty miles of road between the city of Eindhoven and the town of Veghel. The British XXX Corps were to drive north up the road, variously called the ‘Corridor’, ‘Centre Line’ or ‘Club Route’ and the Americans, with full justification, came to know as Hell’s Highway. Over the following days, in operations reminiscent of the Indian Wars fought on the Great Plains of America, the 101st Airborne or ‘Screaming Eagles’ marched and counter-marched to keep German Kampfgruppen at bay.
Almost without exception, accounts of MARKET GARDEN correctly stress the difficulties of moving across country. However, in most cases the difficulties were not of becoming instantly bogged down in ‘wet going’ but of crossing the many drainage ditches, encountering weak bridges and a fear of antitank mines. Tanks could and indeed did take short excursions across country but they were invariably very slow.
During MARKET GARDEN, the Germans displayed their ability to mount an effective defence with ad hoc formations of units and individuals who, in this case, had escaped from the German fortresses along the North Sea coast. In retrospect, the failure to secure the sixty-mile Scheldt waterway between Antwerp and the sea, across which the Germans escaped, was a grievous error. These escapees, augmented by trainees from what was a rear area, were able to pose a significant threat to the pencil thin Hell’s Highway. But for the tough and experienced paratroopers of 101st Airborne Division, and their attached British armour, the Germans may have succeeded in inflicting a crushing reverse on an extremely exposed British 2nd Army.
It should be borne in mind that, while 101st and elements of the Guards Armoured Divisions were fighting on Hell’s Highway, further to the north, others were fighting equally desperate battles. The fighting by British and American troops in the Nijmegen/Groesbeek area, on The Island (between the Waal and the Rhine) and at Arnhem, is covered in separate Battleground volumes.
As a final point, I would like to explain that I have covered the principal memorials in the battle area. However, space has not permitted me to include details and photographs of every memorial to the 101st and every community’s memorial to its liberation. However, they can be easily found in town centres or at the scene of the action described in the following chapters.
I hope this book will encourage those studying MARKET GARDEN to visit and appreciate the highly significant battles fought on Hell’s Highway, the road to Arnhem.
At home or on the ground, enjoy the tour.
German troops intent on withdrawing from the North Sea coast.
ADVICE TO VISITORS
Travel to Holland
A range of ferry crossings to mainland Europe and Holland are available from various UK ports, that can be used by those visiting the MARKET GARDEN battlefields. In the north, Newcastle has an overnight service (fourteen hours) to Amsterdam and further south, Hull has a similar service to Zeebrugge. Harwich has sailings to the Hook of Holland (three and a half hours). Both Amsterdam and the Hook are about two hours drive from Eindoven, on good motorways. Sailings from the East Coast are not as frequent and can be more costly than those from the Channel Ports but savings in fuel and tiredness always make East Coast services worth considering. The Channel crossing, though shorter and quicker, do mean that the visitor is faced with a three to four-hour drive from Calais, via busy motorways (toll-free) around Antwerp and through southern Holland. For those who dislike ferries there is the Channel Tunnel, but this option, though quicker, is usually more expensive. It is worth checking out all the options available and make your selection of route based on UK travel, ferry times and cost. Special offers and Internet deals are always worth keeping an eye on and have, in my case, resulted in impromptu visits to the Continental battlefields.
Traffic law requires drivers to carry a full driving licence, a vehicle registration document, warning triangle and a spare fuel can of an approved type. Spare head light bulbs etc should be taken and, if your headlights do not have left-hand drive adapters, black tape. Do not forget your passport and a GB sticker. Agood web site to visit for up to date travel information is http://www.visitholland.com/geninfo/travel/.
Insurance
It is important to check that all visitors are properly insured to travel in France, Belgium and Holland. Firstly, check with insurance brokers to ensure that your car is properly covered for driving in the above countries and, secondly, make sure all have health cover. It is a legal requirement for a driver to carry a valid certificate of motor insurance. For those travelling by air and hiring cars, Amsterdam/Schipol is a major international hub, while Eindhoven is a significant regional airport in the centre of the Hell’s Highway battle area. For EU Citizens, form E111, available from post offices, grants the bearer reciprocal treatment rights in most European countries. However, the visitor should give serious consideration to purchasing a package of travel insurance from a broker or travel agent.
Accommodation
The Hell’s Highway battle area is dominated by the vastly expanded city of Eindhoven. Those who are drawn to cities will find every grade of hotel in the city but during weekdays it is advisable to book in advance, as rooms fill up with business travellers. The towns on the route, Valkenswaard, Son en Brugel, St Oedenrode, Veghel and Uden, all have attractive hotels of varying styles and grade. There are also significant numbers of well-ordered campsites, which represent good value for money and offer a wide range of services. Information on availability of rooms and bookings can be supplied by the Dutch Tourist Office. For those with access to the Internet, a visit to the following web site will be helpful if searching for the better hotels:
http://hotels.bookings.nl/tourist.nederland.hotbot.html/.
For those who wish to combine a family holiday with a tour of Hell’s Highway, a CentreParcs complex is located at Valkenswaard.
Courtesy
Despite considerable expansion of the villages, towns and cities on Hell’s Highway, much of the battle-area covered in this book, is open farmland, with many of the villages forming important parts of the battlefield. Whether open country or built up area, please respect private property, particularly avoid driving on unmade up farm tracks and entering non-public areas in villages. Adequate views of the scene of the action can be enjoyed from public land. Drivers should be particularly aware of the many cyclists in this flat part of Holland and please watch out for cycle lanes, which should not be blocked by careless parking. The people of Holland extend a genuine welcome to those who come to honour the memory of their Allied liberators. To preserve this welcome, please bear in mind the local people.
Maps
Good maps are an essential prerequisite to a successful battlefield visit. Best of all is a combination of contemporary and modern maps. The Battleground series of course, provides wartime maps, however, a full modern map sheet enables the visitor or those who are exploring the battlefield from the comfort of their armchair, to put the battle in a wider context. A number of modern maps are available in both the UK and Holland. A good road map of Holland is essential to navigate around Hell’s Highway, which takes the visitor on to some minor roads. The best and most detailed map coverage is available from stationers in Eindhoven. In the UK, detailed maps of the Netherlands are normally only available on order from a specialist map shop or as a special order through high street bookshops such as Waterstones.
CHAPTER ONE
JOE’S BRIDGE
The Irish Guards seize a vital bridge
After D Day, the Allies initially made slow progress in terms of captured terrain, with the SHAEF planners’ expectations not being met. However, by mid