L114: De brug of je leven

On September 17, 1944, 4,500 American paratroopers landed successfully on the heath north of Son. The paratroopers immediately left for the bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal to conquer it and advance to Eindhoven. The Germans continuously fired at the American soldiers. The Americans managed to get close to the bridge anyway, but then the bridge was blown up by the Germans. The Germans then withdrew. On the night of 18 to 19 September, the British built a Bailey Bridge with all their might. In the early morning the bridge was ready and tanks and other heavy equipment could cross the water. The Germans eventually had to withdraw.