Market Garden in Nijmegen

In September 1944, Nijmegen was liberated by the Canadians, Americans, British and Poles during Operation Market Garden. Prior to its liberation, the city had suffered terrible damage following heavy bombing by the Americans in February 1944. Nearly 800 people were killed, thousands lost their homes and the city centre was largely destroyed. Anything that remained standing was destroyed by the Germans during their retreat in September 1944.
The Allies were unable to liberate Arnhem. Until May 1945, Nijmegen remained in the front line and was bombarded almost daily from the other side of the River Waal. After its liberation in September 1944, more people died than during the entire war. In total, 2200 residents of Nijmegen died during the fighting, making Nijmegen one of the hardest hit cities in our country.

The crossing
Operation Market Garden was launched on Sunday 17 September 1944. The objective of the operation: to use airborne forces to secure a series of bridges over the main rivers and canals in the German-occupied Netherlands. This would allow the infantry to advance rapidly over the bridges to German industry in the Ruhr and perhaps end the war in the same year.
In order to force a breakthrough, on Wednesday 20 September the paras of the US 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment crossed the River Waal in 26 canvas boats; in full view of German machine guns behind the dyke and German artillery on Fort Beneden-Lent. The German artillery was taken out and the railway bridge and road bridge were then attacked from two sides. At the end of the afternoon, they fell into Allied hands. Losses among the paras were high, but thanks to them Nijmegen was finally liberated! It is important that the story of this incredibly courageous crossing is remembered and passed on.

One of Nijmegen’s heroes during the liberation was Jan van Hoof (1922). Following the outbreak of war, he immediately joined the underground resistance movement. Together with fellow resistance workers, he worked fearlessly against the Germans. In the summer of 1944, the Allies were advancing fast. In order to prevent the British coming too close, the Germans attached explosives to the bridge over the River Waal near Nijmegen. However, this important bridge would have to be saved from demolition. On 18 September 1944, Jan van Hoof went to the bridge, completely alone and in danger of his life, to disarm the explosives. The next day, while guiding a British unit through Nijmegen, he was executed in cold blood by the Germans.

On leave in Nijmegen
After Nijmegen was liberated, soldiers from the German front were sent here on short leave. Nijmegen ended up on the front line between the two sides. In the centre and to the south of the city were the Allies. To the north and in the east were the Germans. For six months, the city was bombarded by German grenades and bombs.
Despite the huge danger, there was also a sense of liberation in the city. This feeling was celebrated with dance evenings, in concert hall de Vereeniging, among others.
Fearing a major new Allied offensive, on 2 December 1944 the German commanders flooded the Betuwe. After the end of Market Garden, fighting not only continued in the Betuwe but also around Groesbeek, which had been liberated on 17 September 1944.
Groesbeek was on the front line and came under fierce fire from Kleve and Reichswald in Germany. In all, 30,000 people were evacuated from Groesbeek, Beek and the surrounding villages.

The State of Nijmegen and the Betuwe were among the hardest hit areas in the Netherlands. Nijmegen lost 2,200 of its citizens during the war; thousands lost their homes and as many houses were destroyed or damaged.