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Saturday 23 September 1944, D-Day + 6 |
British 1st Airborne Division
On this day more than 120
Allied aircraft dropped supplies in spite of heavy German anti-aircraft. About
80 aircraft were shot down. Sadly, almost all of the supplies they dropped fell
into German hands...again. Shortages of food, medicine and, most of all, ammunition
began to create an unbearable situation for the British troops. The Germans
tried continuously to cut the Allies off from the riverbank. Londsdale’s
Force defending this area endured heavy attacks.

The Polish paratroops on the other side of the Rhine were also heavily attacked. They didn't have any artillery because it had landed on September the 19th on the northern side of the river. Luckily, some tanks from the XXX Corps arrived and supported the Poles.
During the night the Poles attempted to cross the river again. They used some other boats which arrived before midnight. This time they were more successful than the day before. About 150 soldiers reached the 'perimeter' on the other side, but this still was just a small number.
U.S.
82nd Airborne Division
The 508th Regiment tried to secure the Ooijpolder (east of Nijmegen). The 8th
Armoured Brigade’s Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry supported them. They made
a good start, but later on German counter-attacks forced them to retreat again.
The battle continued for several days with alternating success.

Finally, weather conditions improved. The 325th Glider Infantry with the rest of several other units took off. They carried about 3,500 men, jeeps and guns. Near Veghel the sky train ran into heavy anti-aircraft fire. A large number of gliders had to land prematurely, but the landings were successful. About 350 gliders arrived at Overasselt. The 325th Glider Infantry immediately headed for Groesbeek’s woods to support the troops there. This lift also brought in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. According to plan they were to jump at Driel on September the 21st, but because of bad weather the planes carrying them were forced to return to their bases. Now two days later, they still were a part of Operation Market Garden, although the Market-part had ended at Nijmegen.
This ends the report on the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division - The division remained active in the Nijmegen area until November 1944 and was then relieved by the First Canadian Army.
U.S.
101st Airborne Division
German forces launched several attacks on Veghel. All were stopped but the corridor
was still cut. It was vital that the advance towards Nijmegen and Arnhem continued.
Horrocks sent the 32nd Guards Brigade from Nijmegen to open the corridor again.
Around 1700 they arrived north of Veghel. A combined assault from both sides
by American and British troops finally broke the German roadblock and the corridor
was opened. However, the XXX Corps was far behind schedule.
The 327th Glider Infantry and the 907th Glider Artillery Battalion arrived by
airlift. Due to bad weather, they couldn't be transported earlier to the Eindhoven
sector. After their arrival they were sent immediately to Veghel to secure the
corridor for further German attacks.
