September 17th, 1944, 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade

Start of Operation Market Garden

When General Urquhart and his 1^st Airborne Divisional Headquarters depart for Arnhem, Major-General Sosabowski is shocked to realise that wireless communication between his headquarters in Great Britain and the division is almost completely ineffective. The information he receives from official channels is scarce and often only repeats what he has already seen in the newspapers, which is far from reassuring.

Sosabowski has Lieutenant-Colonel George Stevens, a British officer serving as his Chief Liaison Officer, attached to his headquarters. Stevens shares his concerns over the poor communication and lack of updates. There is no radio contact with General Urquhart’s division in Arnhem, leaving Sosabowski increasingly anxious about the situation on the ground.

General Browning, who has left Moor Park with Corps Headquarters and landed in The Netherlands near Grave in the 82^nd Divisional Landing Area, is responsible for leading the troops on the battlefield. However, Browning’s headquarters is also lacking a long-range transmitter, making communication with higher command challenging. Meanwhile, the Base Headquarters of the 1^st Allied Airborne Army, under U.S. General Paul Brereton, is stationed somewhere near Ascot. Unfortunately, this offers little help to Sosabowski, as Browning is the one commanding the ground forces, and only he can provide up-to-date information and make necessary adjustments to the plans. Without proper communication, Sosabowski and his staff are left in a frustrating state of uncertainty, unable to receive critical updates about the ongoing battle.

Meanwhile at Royal Air Force Stamford, the Polish company commanders meet with platoon commanders in the afternoon, providing a final briefing before Operation Market begins. The preparation reaches its final phase as all units are ready for the monumental task ahead. final phase as all units are ready for the monumental task ahead.

At the holding area’s and airfields the first soldiers to land and ground crews prepare themselves for their depature the next day. On the nose of one of the Polish gliders, three Polish names are written: Irena, Krystyna, and Barbara. These represent three women, with two based in England and one in Romania. The crew is confident that these names will bring them good fortune.

Polish into Action

On this first day, one Polish officer, Lieutenant Alphons Wojciech Pronobis of Brigade Headquarters of the 1^st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade’s Headquarters, joins the 1^st Airborne Division. As a scout for the main Polish force, he parachutes into drop zone Drop Zone X, tasked with gathering crucial information ahead of the larger Polish deployment.

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