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Posted on 10/13/2004 11:49:28 PM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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As the 101st secured Eindhoven and Veghel at the start of Operation Market-Garden, its battles in Holland were only just beginning.  In broad daylight the three parachute infantry regiments of the 101st Airborne Division descended with amazing accuracy on designated drop zones in Nazi-occupied Holland. It was September 17, 1944, and the Screaming Eagles were to play a vital role in Operation Market-Garden. Once the Allied armies had broken out of their D-Day beachhead and through the bocage, or hedgerow country, of France, they advanced rapidly. Disorganized German units retreated before them.  Fixed fortifications, known as the Siegfried Line or West Wall, barred a direct strike into Germany itself. In the northern area of Allied operations, British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery had devised an ambitious plan to outflank the Siegfried Line and facilitate a drive directly into the Ruhr, the industrial heart of Germany. Montgomery's plan relied on the First Allied Airborne Army, of which the U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps, including the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions, was a part. The commander of this army was Lt. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton.  In England paratroopers from 101 Airborne Division are 'boarding' for operation Market Garden on September 17th 1944. The U.S. airborne troops, who had participated in the D-Day operations, had been resting and absorbing replacements in England since mid-July. For Market-Garden, it was hoped that the Americans, along with the British 1st Airborne Division, would launch a bold strike across the Maas, Waal and Neder Rijn (Rhine) rivers in Holland that would pave the way for ground troops to advance swiftly into Germany and end the war by Christmas of 1944.  Holland, September 18, 1944. Heavily loaded American CG-4 gliders bound for LZ W in the 101st Airborne Division's area. Key to the success of Montgomery's plan would be the seizure of bridges across rivers and adjacent canals by the airborne troops and swift movement of ground forces up a single highway, spanning roughly 60 miles from the Allied lines in Belgium to the Dutch town of Arnhem. The troops would hold the bridges until relief appeared in the form of the British XXX Corps charging down the single road, crossing the bridges successively and arriving at Arnhem as the vanguard of a larger force pushing southeast into Germany.  The Son Bridge The 101st would secure the southernmost bridges, including one over the Wilhelmina Canal at the town of Son, a pair spanning the Dommel River at St. Oedenrode and then four more over the Aar River near the town of Veghel. Eindhoven was also to be captured while the men of the 101st held open 15 miles of the road toward Arnhem for the XXX Corps' use. By the end of their service in Market-Garden, the men of the 101st would refer to this stretch of road as "Hell's Highway." Farther north, the 82nd Airborne was ordered to capture the bridge at Grave, the longest in Europe. The 82nd would also take one or more of the four bridges across the Maas-Waal Canal, another bridge over the Waal at Nijmegen and the area around the town of Groesbeek. The final leg of the XXX Corps' drive involved a dash from Nijmegen to Arnhem, where the British 1st Airborne was to capture and hold three bridges across the Rhine.  The haystack at right would have softened the landing for this paratrooper who hit the earth head first during operations in Holland by the 1st Allied Airborne Army. September 1944. Had Market-Garden succeeded, the war might indeed have been shortened. As it turned out, elements of two SS panzer divisions, the 9th and 10th, had been ordered to the vicinity of the Allied thrust to rest and refit in the days immediately prior to the start of the operation. Also, by coincidence, while Market-Garden was getting underway, the German 59th and 245th Infantry divisions were in transit from the area of the German Fifteenth Army to that of the First Parachute Army—right in the operation's path.  The Son DZ on 17 September, 1944 Intelligence that indicated strong concentrations of German forces in the proposed area of operations appears to have been ignored by planners. Due to stiff resistance, Operation Market-Garden was doomed to failure. The 1st Airborne fought an epic battle for 10 days in and around Arnhem, but of the nearly 10,000 British paratroopers who participated, just over 2,000 escaped death or captivity.  Holland liberated - 17-09-44 Son. Soldiers of the 101st US Airborne Division and citizens looking at a German 88mm anti aircraft gun which has shot down 17 allied aircraft judging by the number of kill rings on its gun barrel, before being knocked out. On the afternoon of September 17, the 101st executed a nearly flawless airdrop. All but two of its battalions were delivered to their correct drop zones. Unlike what had happened in the D-Day drops, the transport pilots held their planes steady and on course through anti-aircraft fire rather than taking evasive action that could have scattered the troops. Most units assembled and moved toward their objectives shortly after landing.  Holland liberated - 17-09-44 Son. A soldier of the 101st U.S. Airborne Division is leaving the landing area near Son. Note his beret on his right shoulder and Garand rifle. Dropping near Son, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Robert F. Sink, was to capture a bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal and then advance south to Eindhoven. The 502nd, commanded by Colonel John H. Michaelis, would establish a perimeter around its drop zone just north of the 506th so that it could later be used as a glider landing zone. It was then to capture a bridge over the Dommel and take bridges over the Wilhelmina Canal near the town of Best. The 501st, under Colonel Howard R. Johnson, was still farther north, where the regiment was instructed to take both road and rail bridges on the Willems Canal and the Aar River near the town of Veghel.
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Yes, permitting the Germans to escape was a major blunder, but it is my recollection that most of them were allowed to escape via water, rather than through the neck of the peninsula. That was a result of the poor use of air power, rather than something which could have been cured by more armor. Or was it they crossed the west Schelde and then passed down the narrow peninsula? It's been some years since I have really read about the battle, and my recollections may be a little off.
Evening Victoria.
Nice message and graphic. :-)
Evening Sam. Thank you. :-)
Evening, Victoria. How are ya? Lookin' forward to the weekend?
While replying to SamWolf, it occured to me that my recollection of the German troop movements in Belgium may have faded since I last read extensively on the subject. When I first replied, I was thinking only of the tasks of clearing the mines and damage to the harbor facitlites. I had forgotten about the delays in clearing the east bank of the Schelde and the islands.
That being said, I don't think XXX Corps would have been much help, given the terrain and the confined nature of the area, but parachute drops might have relieved some of the pressure on the Canadians, but without a net lowering of the number of allied casualties.
Hey AC! Long time no see. Keeping outta trouble?
That's what they did, If the Brits had cut the peninsula off the Germans would have been trapped or have had to done another sea evacuation. Either way they would not have been available to contest Market_Garden.
One of the "What if's " of history. A little more pushing along the coast and maybe Market-Garden would have been unnecessary.
Howdy ma'am, been busy tonight. Msdrby went to a church ladies tea, so I've been babysitting.
Durn, I thought I drank alot of coffee!!
Patton wanted all of the supplies given to 3rd Army so he could make a thrust into Germany via the southern route. The problem with both Patton's and Monty's plans was who is going to watch the flanks. It is one thing to extend out a few miles but several hundred. One of the follys of the M-G approach was amply illustrated in todays thread. Look how easy it was for the Germans to cut the road.
Oh well, a lot of what ifs, eh
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Robert F. Sink
Lieutenant General Robert F. Sink
http://currahee.hispeed.com/hisrhqwwiiphoto01.html
Born April 3, 1905, in Lexington, NC, Robert Frederick Sink began his military career upon graduation from West Point in 1927. His first assignment as a Second Lieutenant was with the Eight Infantry at Fort Screven, GA. In November 1929, he was assigned to the 65th Infantry at San Juan, Puerto Rico. In March 1932, he joined the 34th Infantry at Fort Meade, MD, and remained with this unit until July 1933, when he was assigned to duty with the Civilian Conservation Corps at McAlevy's Fort, PA until December of that same year. He then returned to the 34th Infantry.
Following graduation from the Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA, in September 1934, he was assigned to the 57th Infantry at Fort McKinley, Philippine Islands. He returned to the United States in November 1937, and was assigned to the 25th Infantry at Fort Huachuca, AZ, where he served successively as Company Commander and Regimental Operations Officer.
Sink's first encounter with the airborne took place in November 1940, when he was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning. He later commanded the 503rd Parachute Infantry Battalion and the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In July 1942, he was named as Commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Toccoa, GA; Fort Benning, GA; and Fort Bragg, NC.
In September 1943, he moved to Europe with the 506th PIR, commanding it until the end of hostilities there. On August 12, 1945, Sink was named Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division.
In December 1945, Sink returned to the United States, and the following month assumed command of the infantry detachment of the United States Military Academy. He entered the National War College at Washington, DC, in August 1948, graduating in June 1949.
Sink then was transferred to the Ruckus Command, and became Chief of Staff in October 1949. In January 1951, he was named Assistant Commander of the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea.
He returned to the United States and became Assistant Commander of the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, in December 1951. In February 1953, he assumed command at the Seventh Armored Division at Camp Roberts, CA. In November 1953, he became Commanding General of the 44th Infantry Division At Fort Lewis, WA.
In October 1954, Sink was assigned to the Joint Airborne Troop Board at Fort Bragg, NC. In early 1955, he was transferred to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in April 1955, assumed the dual functions of Chairman of the United States Delegation to the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission and Chief of Army Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Brazil.
He returned to the United States and assumed Command of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg in May 1957. In May 1958, he was announced as Commander, Strategic Army Corps (STRAC), United States Army.
His last major command was as Commander of United States forces in Panama.
Lieutenant General Robert Frederick Sink retired in 1961. He died on 13 December 1965. He is buried in Section 1, Grave 320A in Arlington National Cemetery.
Note: some good photos at this site.
Cool!!!
Keeping out of trouble? Well, not exactly. LOL. How have you been?
LOL!!
I'm not a Kripsy Kreme fan, but I know people who are..
And I bet you hated every minute of it. ;-)
The Blitzkrieg tactics of the 1939-41 just weren't viable in the 1944. Thrusts of hundreds of miles depended on a disorganized enemy who couldn't react quickly and whose morale could be broken. Almost all the nations by that time didn't fit that description. "Tank Panic" which worked when the tactic was new just didn't really figure in anymore.
The Bulge proved that it wouldn't work for the Germans anymore either.
Thanks for the bio on Colonel Sink. IIRC, Dale Dyle played him in Band of Brothers.
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