| 20 - 24 April 2008 | ||
|
The failure of WW2 Operation Market Garden to seize the bridge at Arnhem left the Allied armies occupying a corridor that stretched beyond Nijmegen and threatened on both sides by the Germans. The Allies also faced serious logistical problems as most supplies still had to come all the way from Cherbourg and the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches. To solve them they needed to open the port of Antwerp which, despite having been captured on 4 September 1944, was still unusable as the Germans controlled the Scheldt estuary. On 16 October Field Marshal Montgomery issued orders making Antwerp the sole priority for 21st Army Group and switching the British 2nd Army westwards on the general axis 's-Hertogenbosch - Breda with its right flank on the River Maas (Meuse). Prior to this there was bitter fighting to the east of the Nijmegen corridor to clear the German bridgehead over the River Maas in the area of Venlo.
|
 |
|
|
This new battlefield tour in the Netherlands, led by Colonel Peter Knox covers some of the least known world war two battles of Montgomery's post-Arnhem strategy, also provides an opportunity to visit the historic cities of 's-Hertogenbosch, the capital of the Dutch province of North Brabant, Breda and Middleburg with their impressive churches and traditional market places.
|
||
| Day 1 | (Sunday): Depart Victoria Coach Station London 0845. Dover-Calais ferry. To Holland and the Canada Museum at Maldegem. Drive to Eindhoven for dinner and overnight (2 nights). | |
| Day 2 | Operation AINTREE The battle for Overloon and Venray. Visit the Dutch War and Resistance Museum at Overloon. Visit the German cemetery at Ysselsteyn. | |
| Day 3 | Operation ALAN The battle for 's-Hertogenbosch. Lunch break 's-Hertogenbosch. Visit the "Welsh" room, dedicated to the 53rd (Welsh) Division, in the Stadhuis. Drive to Breda for dinner and overnight (2 nights). | |
| Day 4 | Operations VITALITY and INFATUATE. The Battles for South Beveland and Walcheren. Visit the Atlantic Wall Museum. Lunch break Middleburg. Bergen-op-Zoom CWGC cemetery. | |
| Day 5 | Visit the Polish memorial and General Maczek Museum, Breda. Talk on Poland's role in the war and in particular the 1st Polish Armoured Division. Early lunch in Breda. Leave Holland for the Calais - Dover ferry. Arrive approx 1845 Dover and 2030 London. |
|
|