The bridge at Nijmegen

Army panzers were brought up to reinforce Brinkmann's kampfgruppe, and a determined effort was launched to blast out the British. As the battle was raging at Arnhem bridge, Spindler was continuing his effort to hold the 1st Airborne Division. His force had grown to 1000 men in several independent kampfgruppen, backed by 30 tanks. An ad hoc division of army and Waffen-SS units was also trying to build a front to block the British move westwards and to seal them in a kessel. The Germans were closing in.

During the morning of 18 September, Harmel returned to Arnhem and quickly received his orders from Bittrich, who declared: "Schwerpunkt [main effort] is south." No effort was to be spared to hold Nijmegen bridge and prevent a link-up between the British tanks and their airborne troops. Waffen-SS engineers on trucks and riding bicycles at last reached Nijmegen bridge. They immediately began preparing it for demolition. At midday, SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Heinz Euling arrived to take command of the bridge defence kampfgruppe. Soon, armoured halftracks, mortars and four Panzerjöger IVs were rumbling over Nijmegen bridge. Artillery batteries were established on the north bank of the Waal to provide support.

Laying the trap

When American paratroopers edged into Nijmegen they were met with a heavy barrage of German artillery and mortar fire, sending them scurrying back to seek cover. More Frundsberg reinforcements arrived during the day, and Harmel set up his command post on the north bank of the Waal, from where he could observe the key bridge. Model relayed to him the Führer's orders that the bridge was not to be blown, but held to allow a German counterattack to restore the front along the Dutch-Belgian border. Harmel was having none of this nonsense, though, and was determined to order the bridge to be blown if British tanks attempted to cross.

Throughout the afternoon and into the night of 18/19 September, fighting raged in Arnhem. Tigers were brought up to blast the paras on Arnhem bridge, and the army's 280th Assault Gun Brigade arrived to support Spindler's drive against the main British force. Slowly, the Germans were becoming more organized and effective. Losses were heavy on both sides, with most German kampfgruppen suffering 50 percent casualties. The German armour was decisive, allowing the outnumbered Waffen-SS kampfgruppen to blast the British out of their positions.

The date 20 September signified the decisive phase in the battle. The Guards Armoured Division had linked up with the 82nd Airborne Division and planned to seize the Nijmegen bridge during the day. Harmel had some 500 Waffen-SS troopers in the town fighting alongside a similar number of Luftwaffe, army and police troops. 88mm and 37mm flak guns were emplaced in order to protect the large road ramps leading up to the bridge, and the Panzerjöger IVs were also in the town.

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