Commonwealth Cemetery Arnhem , Operation Market Garden in Oosterbeek – The Netherlands


The Cross of Sacrifice
The Cross of Sacrifice

In Arnhem, close to the Hartenstein Airborne Museum, is a Commonwealth Cemetery with fallen soldiers from operation Market Garden.
The majority of those who fought and died during the airborne assault on Arnhem are buried in Oosterbeek near Arnhem.

Arnhem -Oosterbeek War Cemetery entrance
Arnhem – Oosterbeek War Cemetery entrance
Arnhem -Oosterbeek War Cemetery overview
Arnhem – Oosterbeek War Cemetery overview

There are over 1700 burials at the Arnhem Oosterbeek cemetery. There are almost 1400 British soldiers on the field of honour, over 70 Polish soldiers, over 30 Canadian soldiers, a few Australian, New Zealand and Dutch are buried on this field.
The most Allied casualties are from the British 1st airborne division and the 1st Polish independent Parachute Brigade.
Among the British soldier are three Coldstream Guards that fought in the Netherlands in the months after Operation Market Garden in the battle for Overloon, operation Veritable and more.

Polish and British soldiers
Polish and British soldiers
British and Dutch soldiers
British and Dutch soldiers

The Allied had to leave most of their fallen on the battlefield while withdrawing in 1944.
After liberation the Allied discovered simple graves and mass graves dug by the Germans to give the Allied soldiers a last resort.
The Allied started to move the bodies to one place and the cemetery grew steadily. The field is established in 1945, as said most are Allied servicemen die in the battle for Arnhem. Up until today there are still bodies discovered in the vicinity of the combat area, therefore the numbers on the cemetery is still growing.

British Airmen on the Civilian cemetery Oosterbeek
British Airmen on the Civilian cemetery Oosterbeek
Civilian victims Oosterbeek
Civilian victims Oosterbeek

On the civilian cemetery across the road there are a few graves of Allied soldiers as well, fallen prior the Operation Market Garden.

Spread throughout the Netherlands are multiple cemeteries with victims from Operation Market Garden. Even more Common Wealth locations considering the numerous operations that took place in the Holland during the last two years of the war, like; Pegasus, Veritable, Armherst, Vitality, Anger and so on.

About 200 meter further on the road towards the cemetery is a small memorial for the Paratroopers who fought here during the battle.

Oosterbeek Paratrooper memorial
Oosterbeek Paratrooper memorial

 


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