Thursday 21 September 1944, D-Day + 4

British 1st Airborne Division
In the morning the 2nd Battalion, or what was left of them, no longer could hold their position and surrendered. Some men tried to escape to Oosterbeek, but only a few made it. All the German forces had concentrated on the 'perimeter' at Oosterbeek. Moreover, German reinforcements arrived on this day, which only made things worse. But despite heavy German attacks, the British troops’ position hardly changed though they suffered severe losses.

Maj. Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowsk’s 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade was dropped two days later than scheduled. They were dropped on the other site over the river near the village Driel. Their intended drop zone was south of the Traffic Bridge, but since the bridge was in German hands another drop zone was chosen. Just as the second airlift had been delayed by bad weather conditions in England, so was this one. Beside this set back, the Poles had other problems. Bad weather forced some C-47s to return to their bases, so that not all of the 1st Para-battalion jumped. Furthermore, the planes that did make it to Arnhem were attacked heavily by German anti-aircraft guns. Maybe the worst part was that the Germans took the ferry over the river which the Poles intended to use to reach the British. So the Poles were stuck on the other side of the river and could do practically nothing other than wait. One advantage was that the Germans now had to pay attention to both the British and the Poles, which gave a bit of relief to the troops on the 'perimeter'.

The British finally made radio contact with the XXX Corps at Nijmegen, although much later than planned. Now the British could count on artillery support from Nijmegen. From this day on, the British at Oosterbeek passed on the positions of the Germans so the artillery could start shelling them. This was a welcome support!
Supplies still didn't arrive on the right side. Although the British had chosen another drop zone, because of poor radio communications the RAF was not informed about this change. The British tried to make their new positions clear to the pilots, but the pilots were ordered not to pay any attention to events that took place on the ground. They had to stick to the planned drop zones. German anti-aircraft guns also caused some losses.

U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 504th defended the bridge and held the area along the riverside. Although the Germans lost the bridges, they kept on attacking. The 508th Regiment was still embroiled in the fight against the Germans in Beek, which started on September the 20th. The first attempt to liberate the town failed, but a second was successful. In the evening, after intense fighting, Beek was in American hands again.

The XXX Corps could have continued their advance towards Arnhem now that the bridge was in Allied hands, but instead they stopped. The Americans were baffled…and furious. They had expected the British armour would rush to Arnhem to relieve the British 1st Airborne Division, but, as Colonel Reuben Tucker of the 504th Regiment said, "all they seem to be doing is brewing tea". Horrocks of the XXX Corps had his reasons. He wanted to wait until the infantry arrived, otherwise his tanks would be too vulnerable. Many of the Allies didn't appreciate his cautious stance.

The majority of the supplies dropped were recovered with help from the local people. However, the reinforcements still couldn't take off.


U.S. 101st Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 501st Regiment crossed the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal near Dinther, the village they had liberated the day before. They headed for Schijndel, a village west of Veghel. Late in the afternoon, Schijndel was reached and an attack was launched. Only a part of the village was liberated. The 3rd Battalion reached the road between Schijndel and St. Oedenrode.

The Germans launched an attack on St. Oedenrode, but the men of the 502nd Regiment withstood the assault. The 506th Regiment, with British XXX Corps’ tanks, continued their assault on the Germans near Nederwetten. Finally, the Germans retreated and the corridor was open again.

British XXX Corps
Horrocks, the XXX Corps’ commander, wouldn’t continue his tanks advance towards Arnhem until supporting British infantry arrived. He waited for Maj. Gen. G. Ivor Thomas’ 43rd Wessex Division, even though they hadn’t even reached Grave yet. Although given priority, this division made slow progress. The constant shelling of the corridor by the Germans delayed them several times.

This day ends the reporting of the British XXX Corps. XXX Corps’ action in the following days will be mentioned in the section of the co-operating airborne division.

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