Norman D. Landing

[Dogsbody]

Today 75 years ago the city of Eindhoven was liberated by the 101st Airborne Division and later in the day the link up with XXX corps was a fact. The Then shot show people celebrating at the Markt.

 

 

 

Rene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dogsbody]

As some of you maybe remember some time ago I did post quite some Then and Nows from Eindhoven but here's another one where paratroopers pose with civilians for a picture. The building in background in the so called Philips light tower. The Now shot is from last weekend's parade through the city and is taken a bit closer to the light tower but I thought it appropriate since it shows some well seasoned para's in a Jeep . For good measure I have added a picture that shows the entire building.

 

 

 

 

 

[Dogsbody]

Oops...... here are the Now shots.

 

 

 

Rene

 

 

[Dogsbody]

At the Northern end of the city you can find a small monument dedicated to the paratroopers who lost their lives during the liberation of Eindhoven.

 

 

 

Rene

 

 

 

 

[Dogsbody]

 

 

Rene

[Dogsbody]

And to commemorate the link up with the Brits here's a shot showing a nice British AEC Matador Gun tractor.

 

 

Rene

 

 

[mikie]

Rene, just so you know, I've greatly upped my intake of Gouda cheese since you started these posts. As if I needed an excuse! I have to watch my diet so have been resisting the urge to buy some stroopwafels.

Mikie

[General Apathy]

Today 75 years ago the city of Eindhoven was liberated by the 101st Airborne Division and later in the day the link up with XXX corps was a fact. The Then shot show people celebrating at the Market.

 

 

Rene

 

.

Hi Rene, thank you very much for all the photos, this one in particular appealed to me as I focused on the girl in the red-white-blue dress. During filming of Band of Brothers I provided an original WWII version of a similar dress to be used in the scenes of Easy company passing through Holland.

 

This is a shot of the rear of that dress, apologies I cant find a shot of the front of the dress, it had a large red ' V ' design on the chest area of the dress, if you watch Band of Brothers again see if you can spot the dress in any of the scenes of Holland.

 

That's an excellent restored version of the AEC Matador that you added.

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, September 19 2019.

 

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[Dogsbody]

Rene, just so you know, I've greatly upped my intake of Gouda cheese since you started these posts. As if I needed an excuse! I have to watch my diet so have been resisting the urge to buy some stroopwafels.

Mikie

Hi Mikie, if you ever have the chance to come over to Europe (i.e. Nijmegen) you may add this to your diet as well...…..

 

 

 

Rene

[Dogsbody]

.

Hi Rene, thank you very much for all the photos, this one in particular appealed to me as I focused on the girl in the red-white-blue dress. During filming of Band of Brothers I provided an original WWII version of a similar dress to be used in the scenes of Easy company passing through Holland.

 

This is a shot of the rear of that dress, apologies I cant find a shot of the front of the dress, it had a large red ' V ' design on the chest area of the dress, if you watch Band of Brothers again see if you can spot the dress in any of the scenes of Holland.

 

That's an excellent restored version of the AEC Matador that you added.

 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, September 19 2019.

 

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Hi Ken, it's one of my favourite scenes from the series. I my opinion it captures Einhoven quite well. I haven't been able to spot the dress but will have a closer look.

 

 

Rene

[Dogsbody]

Hi everybody. I will now focus on Nijmegen a bit.

 

As you all know it was the 82nd Airborne division's task (amongst others) to capture the Waal bridge after a defensive perimeter had been established at the Groesbeek Heights. This meant that after landing the paratroopers could not immediately attack the bridge. This gave the Germans room to bring in extra troops to defend the bridge. This happened on september the 18th predominantly at the Hunnerpark and the Valkhofpark Here is a shot from the Waal bridge showing both parks (Hunnerpark with tower on the left and Valkhofpark close by on the right). The view from the bridge is towards the city centre where the airbornes would be attacking.

 

 

Rene

 

 

[Dogsbody]

Because of the influx of German reinforcements the airbornes had a difficult time to capture the bridge and eventually had to wait for the arrival of XXX corps to help. Around the Keizer Karelplein (Then and Now shot) heavy fighting took place and the Germans didn't shy away from torching several houses.

 

 

 

Rene

 

 

 

 

[Dogsbody]

Closer to the Waal bridge a 88mm gun was situated at the Keizer Lodewijkplein (nowadays Keizer Traianusplein).

 

 

The gun would have been placed approximately at the spot where now the so called Jan van Hoof statue is standing. This spot has become virtually unrecognizable compared to the Then shot.

 

 

Rene

 

 

 

[Dogsbody]

I will close with a view from the Waal bridge showing Nijmegen to the left and the railway bridge The x marks the powerplant from where the 504th PIR started the crossing of the Waal on september 20th 1944 (I will come back to that extensively). The arrow marks the new bridge named de Oversteek (the Crossing).

Rene

[doyler]

Rene and Ken.Greatly appreciate the continued up dates,additions and all the "then and Now" contributions.

 

I will add a couple items for the Liberation of Holland.

[doyler]

This is a scrap book I was given along with a map by a veteran I personally knew.He was a Battalion Surgeon with the 508th PIR and was a veteran of Normandy,Holland,Battle of the Bulge and served til wars end.He also was a doctor on the 508th Football Team for a period post war in Germany.

 

I don't recall who assembled the scrap book for him or if he done it himself at some point when having access to the new papers.The papers are all British publications.

 

My Dads birthday is the 17th of September and I always think of both him and the veterans on that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[doyler]

 

 

[doyler]

The scrap book has clipping going throught the end of October.These are just a few of the ones saved.

 

A bridge to Far....

 

 

 

 

[doyler]

The map is one he carried with him during the Market Garden jump and the battle.

 

 

 

 

[doyler]

When he opened th emap he spoke of the Aid Station he was part of and immediately took his pen and made this circle on the map saying to me "This is the Aid Station location where we were working from"..... THis is located to the North and West a little of Groesbeek.

 

 

[doyler]

I had posted this before but will add it here.

 

This Tommies helmet was found on the Bank of the Waal River in Nijmegen and picked up by him and brought home.

 

 

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/168611-friend-and-foe/?hl=nijmegen&do=findComment&comment=1282633

[Dogsbody]

Thanks Ron for adding some great 'Holland' items. Much appreciated. If there's more feel free to add them.

 

Rene

[doyler]

Thanks Ron for adding some great 'Holland' items. Much appreciated. If there's more feel free to add them.

 

Rene

Rene

Thanks for letting me contribute.

[mikie]

I wasn't able to take a real summer vacation this year, Rene. But this Fall trip to The Netherlands is making up for it. Great scrapbook group Ron. Getting it all from the hands of the veteran along with his commentary is incredible. Just amazing!

 

Mikie

[mikie]

Hey, I remembered I had something to contribute here! I bought these bits of parachute rigging almost 15 years ago from a gentleman in The Netherlands who dug them up. They were recovered in the 505th PIR drop zone "N" near Groesbeek.

 

Mikie