Rough Guides: Travel the Liberation Route Europe is a travel guide dedicated to remembrance sites and itineraries all over Europe.
Order your Rough Guides now!To ensure the success of Operation Market Garden, the Allied forces had to capture the bridge in Arnhem. However, the light-armed airborne forces stood no chance against two SS Panzer divisions that happened to be in the area. After desperate fighting and many casualties, the Arnhem bridge proved to be ‘a bridge too far’. The British and Polish paratroopers that were dropped near Arnhem faced many problems. The paratroopers in Arnhem were expected to hold out for four days at the most. In the end they had to endure nine days of brutal fighting before retreating across the Rhine River after the failure of Market Garden was inevitable.
Arrival to Antwerp and first night’s hotel stay in the Antwerp area.
The next morning make a visit to Leopoldsburg to see where General Horrocks addressed his troops prior to the advance, and cover the taking of Joe’s Bridge at the Barrier. Then take a leisurely drive along the corridor (Hells Highway) which the troops took in their attempt to relieve the airborne forces at Arnhem. En route visit the various crossing places of the canal system and the Grave Bridge. Take a break in the beautiful town of Nijmegen, also visiting the bridge here; before making your way to the Liberation Museum at Groesbeek and then to your overnight hotel in Arnhem.
Day 3Depart from Arnhem to visit the Oosterbeek area, the Hartenstein Airborne Museum, Schoonoord Cross-Roads, Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery and follow the route taken by John Frost to the famous ‘Bridge Too Far’. Stop en route at the Tafelberg Hotel, the home of Kate Ter Horst (the ‘Angel of Arnhem’). Also visit the scenes of valour where L/Sgt. Baskeyfield, Cpt. Queripel, Cpt. Cain, Lt. Grayburn and Flt Lt. Lord all won the coveted Victoria Cross.
Day 4Visit Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery, to pay respect to the fallen soldiers, then cross over into Germany and pay a visit to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery near Kleve.
Day 5End of tour.
