Operation Market Garden, 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

Operation

The 1^st Airborne Division is supported by the Polish 1^st Independent Parachute Brigade, under the command of Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, which is scheduled to be dropped south of the road bridge after the initial landings.

On September 12^th, 1944, at Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, the morning begins with an Air Force conference, focused on the allocation of aircraft and gliders for the upcoming operation. The Brigade Group is assigned 114 aircraft and 45 Horsa gliders. Due to the limited number of gliders available, the Brigade’s light artillery will not be brought into action. The anti-tank battery can only take their guns, jeeps, and two men per gun, while transport and heavy equipment for other units must be reduced to a bare minimum, especially when compared to the provisions of similar British units.

Later that day, at 17:00 hours, the Commander of the Polish 1^st Independent Parachute Brigade, Major-General Sosabowski meets with the Commander of the 1^st Airborne Division Major-General Urquhart for a briefing on Operation Market. The task is delivered orally, with written orders expected by the 16th of September. A summary of the order is provided as an enclosure.

Throughout the night of September 13^th, 1944 and into the following morning at Royal Air Force Stamford, the operational plan for the Brigade Group is worked out in detail. At 17:00 hours, commanders of battalions and special units are informed of the Major-General Sosabowski’s plan, and the battalion commanders begin formulating their own specific approaches.

On September 14^th, 1944, in Royal Air Force Stamford, during the morning, Major-General Sosabowski reviews the battalions’ plans, adding further details and ensuring all aspects are coordinated. By 16:00 hours, the Commander of the 1^st Airborne Division and the Division Artillery Officer meet with the Major-General Sosabowski and his Chief of Staff to discuss how the task will be carried out, specifically the crossing of the Brigade to the northern bank of the River Rhine. The evening is spent by Brigade Group Headquarters and the battalions working through further planning and finalizing details.

On September 15^th, 1944, in Royal Air Force Stamford, the Brigade Group Chief of Staff heads to the Headquarters of the 1^st and 4^th Parachute Brigades to coordinate efforts regarding securing the river crossing. Discussions take place on taking over the defensive sector from the two parachute brigades. At 12:30 hours, a coordination conference is held between the Brigade Group Commander, the battalion commanders, engineers, and the anti-tank officers.

During the morning of September 16^th, 1944, in Royal Air Force Stamford, a conference is held involving the battalion commanders and company commanders to further align plans and strategies.

Passwords

Like the 1^st Airborne Division, the passwords for the initial days at Arnhem were similar for the 1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, as specified in the operational orders, are as follows:

• H Hour to September 17^th, 1944: Challenge, “Red,” Reply, “Beret.”
• September 18^th, 1944, D+1: Challenge, “Uncle,” Reply, “Sam.”
• September 19^th, 1944, D+2: Challenge, “Carrier,” Reply, “Pigeon.”
• September 20^th, 1944, D+3: Challenge, “Air,” Reply, “Borne.”
• September 21^st, 1944, D+4: Challenge, “Robert,” Reply, “Burns.”
• September 22^nd, 1944, D+5: Challenge, “Troop,” Reply, “Carrier.”

Only five days’ worth of passwords were originally planned, and once these were exhausted, New passwords had to be created. There are indications that Challenge “Mae”, Reply, “West” was used on September 24^th, 1944. Passwords for Saturday and Monday might be missing. Most likely passwords were arranged locally by Headquarters.

September 17th, 1944

September 18th, 1944

September 19th, 1944

September 20th, 1944

September 21st, 1944

September 22nd, 1944

September 23rd, 1944

September 24th, 1944

September 25th, 1944

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