The story
On Sunday September 17 1944, the skies were full of aircraft, gliders and parachutes. The fields around Heelsum and Renkum served as landing zone for hundreds of Allied paratroops and gliders. This amazing spectacle marked the start of the liberation of the Netherlands.
Hundreds of paratroops landed here on that day. They advanced towards Arnhem, but soon found that the Germans had blocked their path. They tried to break through, but this took longer than expected. Only one battallion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frost, succeeded in finally reaching the bridge in Arnhem. This was the first day of a massive military operation which should have heralded the end of the Second World War. Alas, the reality was different.
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.