| Special Forces Operations in September 1944 |
| September 10th, 1944 – September 12th, 1944 |
| Capture of Le Havre |
| 79th Armoured Division |
| Brigadier Duncan leads the assault group of 79th Armoured Division in the attack on Le Havre. His force includes two Crab regiments, one AVRE regiment, two Crocodile squadrons, and several newly converted Kangaroo armoured personnel carriers. The 49th Royal Tank Regiment and the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, both forming part of the 31st Tank Brigade, provide the Kangaroos. Their objective is to breach minefields and obstacles, destroy German concrete positions, suppress defences with flame, and carry infantry forward under armour to secure the port. The 79th Armoured Division supports 1st Corps in the assault on Le Havre. The attack begins after heavy air and artillery bombardment. Crabs and AVRE’s open lanes through the dense mine belts and obstacles. AVRE crews also use Snakes to clear paths when resistance is strong. Crocodiles move forward and fire flame into defended positions, encouraging German troops to surrender. Kangaroos follow with infantry to protect the armour from panzerfaust teams. The assault method mirrors Normandy but now includes large-scale use of Kangaroos. The close cooperation of Crab’s, AVRE’s, and Crocodiles proves decisive. The 49th and 51st Infantry Divisions advance rapidly, and Le Havre is captured in under three days with only fifty British soldiers killed. |
| September 14th, 1944 – October 27th, 1944 |
| Operation Nancy |
| Office of Strategic Services Operational Group Franchy |
| Office of Strategic Services Operational Group Franchy parachuted into the Lorraine region of France, near the Moselle River, east of Nancy. Their task was to gather intelligence, assist Resistance fighters, and sabotage German lines of communication behind the rapidly moving front. They coordinated ambushes, planted mines, and destroyed railway lines as U.S. Third Army advanced under General Patton. Their intelligence was crucial for identifying fallback German positions and weak points in the defences east of Metz. They remained operational until late October when front lines overtook their area of operation. |
| September 17th, 1944 – September 22nd, 1944 |
| Operation Wellhit |
| 79th Armoured Division |
| The 3rd Canadian Division conducts the assault on Boulogne, supported by 79th Armoured Division subunits under the control of Brigadier G. S. Knight of 31st Armoured Brigade. Three armoured columns are each led by 79th Armoured Division tanks and commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Each assault team includes one troop of Crabs, two troops of Crocodiles, and a half-troop of AVRE’s. Kangaroos carry infantry to secure gaps created in the defences, while bulldozers prepare routes through bomb-damaged ground. Their collective objective is to breach the perimeter, carry infantry through the city, and force German defenders to surrender strongpoints. The 3rd Canadian Division attacks Boulogne. Infantry first clear the outer defensive ring. Three armoured columns then push into the city. Bombers create openings in the perimeter, which Kangaroos exploit by delivering infantry directly into the breaches. Bulldozers follow to level craters and rubble. Urban fighting proves far more difficult. German resistance is strong and armour movement is restricted by narrow streets. Progress is slow, but Crocodiles play a decisive role in forcing defenders out of fortified buildings. After four days the city falls. The assault method again proves effective, but heavy bombing is judged a mistake because the resulting rubble obstructs the advance. During these operations, American forces conduct their own assault on Brest and continue to seek flame tanks for European combat. |
| September 17th, 1944 – September 25th, 1944 |
| Operation Market Garden |
| 1st Airborne Division |
| The 1st Airborne Division role in Operation Market Garden, which begins on September 17th, 1944. Their objective is to capture and hold the key bridge at Arnhem, which is crucial for the Allied plan to secure a corridor through the Netherlands and into Germany. The operation aims to create a direct route to the Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heartland, to end the war quickly. The division is dropped on September 17th, 1944, but due to various factors, including weather conditions bad communications, strong German defences, and landing areas far from their intended targets, things turn out not as planned. Despite this, elements of the division manage to secure the northern end of the Arnhem bridge, but their position becomes increasingly precarious as they face fierce resistance from German forces, including two SS Panzer Divisions that have been unexpectedly deployed to the area. Communication breakdowns, delays in reinforcement, and the failure of other Allied units to link up with them leave the 1st Airborne Division isolated and vulnerable. Over the course of nine days, the division endures intense combat, with their numbers dwindling as they fight to hold their ground. By September 25th, 1944, the division is forced to withdraw from Arnhem, with only a fraction of the original force able to escape. The operation fails to achieve its primary objective, and the 1st Airborne Division suffers heavy casualties. |
| September 17th, 1944 – September 25th, 1944 |
| Operation Market Garden |
| 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade |
| The 1st Polish Independent Airborne Brigade, led by Major-General Stanislaw Sosabowski, plays a critical role in Operation Market Garden, with their deployment initially scheduled for September 19th, 1944. Their primary objective is to reinforce the British 1st Airborne Division by securing crossings over the Rhine River near Arnhem, particularly focusing on aiding the embattled forces at the Arnhem bridge. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the brigade’s deployment is delayed, and they are not able to drop until September 21th, 1944. When they finally land near Driel, south of the Rhine, they encounter heavy German resistance. The brigade faces immediate challenges, including the lack of proper equipment to cross the Rhine and the strong German defences on the opposite bank. Over the following days, the brigade attempts several crossings of the Rhine to reach the British forces trapped in Arnhem. Despite their best efforts, including makeshift attempts to ferry troops across the river, the Poles are only partially successful. The situation for the British at Arnhem continues to worsen, and the Polish brigade’s contributions, while valiant, are insufficient to turn the tide of the battle. By September 25th, 1944, the overall situation forces the Allies to abandon the attempt to hold Arnhem, and the brigade, like the other Allied units, is ordered to withdraw. The 1st Polish Independent Airborne Brigade suffers significant casualties during the operation, and their role, despite being crucial, is marred by logistical challenges and the overwhelming German resistance they face. After the operation, the brigade is unfairly blamed by some Allied commanders for the failure of Market Garden, leading to tensions between Major-General Sosabowski and British leadership. |
| September 17th, 1944 – September 25th, 1944 |
| Operation Market Garden |
| 82nd Airborne Division |
| The 82nd Airborne Division is tasked with securing vital bridges and crossings over the Maas and Waal rivers during Operation Market Garden, beginning on September 17th, 1944. Their primary objectives are to capture the bridges at Grave and Nijmegen, ensuring a secure route for Allied ground forces advancing towards Arnhem and into Germany. The division quickly achieves its first objective by capturing the bridge over the Maas River at Grave on September 17th, 1944. They then focus on the Waal River bridge at Nijmegen, one of the most strategically important targets of the operation. The bridge is heavily defended, and the 82nd Airborne Division faces significant resistance from German forces entrenched in the area. On September 20th, 1944, the division undertakes a daring daylight assault across the Waal River, using small boats to cross under heavy fire. This river crossing is one of the most heroic and dangerous actions of the operation, and despite suffering heavy casualties, the 82nd Airborne Division successfully captures the Nijmegen bridge. This achievement is crucial for the Allies, as it allows ground forces to continue their advance. However, delays in securing the bridge and the inability of the British forces to capture the bridge at Arnhem mean that the operation’s overall objectives are not fully realized. The 82nd Airborne Division’s actions are marked by bravery and effective combat performance, but like the other divisions involved, they face challenges due to the unexpectedly strong German defenses and coordination issues among Allied forces. The division remains engaged in defending the corridor through late September, ensuring that “Hell’s Highway” remains open for supply and reinforcements, albeit at a high cost. |
| September 17th, 1944 – September 25th, 1944 |
| Operation Market Garden |
| 101st Airborne Division |
| The 101st Airborne Division is assigned several key objectives during Operation Market Garden, which begins on September 17th, 1944. Their mission is to capture and secure a series of bridges and roadways between Eindhoven and Nijmegen, forming the southern part of the “Hell’s Highway” corridor that Allied forces need to advance into the Netherlands and eventually into Germany. On September 17th, 1944 the division is dropped in the vicinity of Eindhoven, Son, and Veghel. They quickly move to secure the bridges in these areas, which are crucial for the operation’s success. However, the bridge at Son is destroyed by the Germans just as the 101st Airborne Division arrives, forcing the division to organise a temporary crossing. Engineers work rapidly to build a replacement bridge, allowing the advance to continue. Throughout the operation, the 101st Airborne Division faces continuous German counterattacks aimed at cutting off the vital supply route along Hell’s Highway. From September 18th, 1944 to September 26th, 1944, the division is engaged in fierce battles to defend this corridor, particularly around the towns of Veghel and Son, where the Germans repeatedly attempt to sever the Allied supply line. Despite these challenges, the 101st Airborne Division successfully holds most of their positions, ensuring that the road remains open for the duration of the operation. Their efforts are crucial in maintaining the flow of reinforcements and supplies, even though the broader objectives of Operation Market Garden are not fully achieved. |