ABSTRACT
From dieppe on the coast of France to the Dutch city of Arnhem on the lower Rhine is about 242 miles as the crow flies, but in World War II it took two years and thirty-two days for the western Allies to travel that distance. To keep the plan in proper perspective it should be noted that advances of many miles a day had not been uncommon for the British and American armored divisions during the battle for France. The British Guards Armored Division, given the assignment of the principal assault force to link together the airborne units, had made similar advances against German forces presumably better organized and in greater strength than those expected to be in the area between the Belgian border and Arnhem. The task of capturing the bridge at Arnhem was assigned to the 1st Parachute Brigade. It parachuted in on its drop-zone on schedule and immediately set out on the six-mile march to the bridge.
