September 20, 1944: Day four of Operation Market Garden - fighting in Nijmegen is very heavy as British tankers and US paratroops from the 82nd fight house to house toward the bridge. A forced river crossing is launched and this finally secures the Waal River bridge. Attacks against the British battalion in Arnhem become heavy as the SS commits their armor to the battle. Casualties on both sides are heavy and ammunition for the paratroops is running low. While it was estimated that the 1st Airborne Division, 10,000 strong, would only need to hold the Arnhem bridge for two days, a mere 740 held it for twice as long against far heavier opposition than anticipated.
German forces counterattack the in the Son area hitting the 101st Airborne with a tank heavy force, but intervention by the British tankers stops the German progression.
Geldrop, Someren, and Terneuzen are captured by Allied troops, while elsewhere on the western front elements of Canadian 1st Army are attacking south of Scheldt estuary. US 1st Army attacks Muensterbusch, Weissenberg Hill, Stolberg, Zweifall, and Huertgen. US 3rd Army remains heavily engaged around Metz and Luneville and US 7th Army moves into jumping off positions for attack toward Epinal. French Army B holding positions around Belfort.
In the skies above northwestern Europe, US 9th Air Force supports ground troops up and down the front and RAF Bomber Command sends 646 aircraft to attack besieged fortress of Calais.
German units continue to withdraw from Rimini Line overnight. US 5th Army fights around Monte Prano, Pescia, Firenzuola, and Futa pass.
Pictured: British troops of C Company, 5th Battalion, Border Regiment waiting in ditches near a road, observing German troops 100 yards away, Arnhem, Gelderland, the Netherlands, September 20, 1944.; A convoy of British trucks under German artillery and mortar fire on the road between Son and Eindhoven, September 20, 1944.; Captured British paratroopers being marched away by German troops, September 20, 1944; Sergeant J. Whawell and Sergeant J. Turrell of the UK Glider Pilot Regiment searching a damaged Dutch school for German snipers, Arnhem, Gelderland, the Netherlands, September 20, 1944.
German forces counterattack the in the Son area hitting the 101st Airborne with a tank heavy force, but intervention by the British tankers stops the German progression.
Geldrop, Someren, and Terneuzen are captured by Allied troops, while elsewhere on the western front elements of Canadian 1st Army are attacking south of Scheldt estuary. US 1st Army attacks Muensterbusch, Weissenberg Hill, Stolberg, Zweifall, and Huertgen. US 3rd Army remains heavily engaged around Metz and Luneville and US 7th Army moves into jumping off positions for attack toward Epinal. French Army B holding positions around Belfort.
In the skies above northwestern Europe, US 9th Air Force supports ground troops up and down the front and RAF Bomber Command sends 646 aircraft to attack besieged fortress of Calais.
German units continue to withdraw from Rimini Line overnight. US 5th Army fights around Monte Prano, Pescia, Firenzuola, and Futa pass.
Pictured: British troops of C Company, 5th Battalion, Border Regiment waiting in ditches near a road, observing German troops 100 yards away, Arnhem, Gelderland, the Netherlands, September 20, 1944.; A convoy of British trucks under German artillery and mortar fire on the road between Son and Eindhoven, September 20, 1944.; Captured British paratroopers being marched away by German troops, September 20, 1944; Sergeant J. Whawell and Sergeant J. Turrell of the UK Glider Pilot Regiment searching a damaged Dutch school for German snipers, Arnhem, Gelderland, the Netherlands, September 20, 1944.