Landing of paratroopers at the occasion of the 75th anniversary of operation Market Garden during World War II - stock photo

This photo was taken at the 75th anniversary of the dropping of para troops in Groesbeek. That happened on September 17, 1944 in the context of Operation Market Garden. In a few days, almost 8,000 American paratroopers were dropped in the immediate surroundings of Groesbeek. In the first days after September 17, the surroundings of Groesbeek and Nijmegen changed into a hellish front area. The bridges of Nijmegen were conquered intact, but had to be defended against all German attacks in the following days and weeks. The Rhine bridge near Arnhem eventually had to be abandoned by the English paratroopers. Large parts of the area south of Nijmegen were freed. This was of great strategic importance for the course of the war; from here the Rhineland offensive, the attack on the German flank, could be deployed.