0917_12: The 82nd - Upon the Highlands of Holland (A. Historical Drop Zones) - PzC 10 Market Garden '44

Nijmegen, near the German border, Sept 17th 1944: The U.S. 82nd Airborne was tasked with capturing, and holding, the bridges across the Maas River (Grave Bridge) and the Waal River in Nijmegen. In order to do so, the 82nd troopers had not only to take the bridges themselves, but to hold the high ground near Groesbeek, east of Nijmegen. The high ground had to be held to ensure safe landing for the reinforcements, and also to protect against German attacks from the Reichswald to the east. The difficulty was the need to balance the speed and stealth necessary to grab the bridges, while using forces which might be needed to eliminate German threats to the high ground. Unanticipated German forces added to the confusion. [Size medium]