L130: Bolwerk Best

Extensive airborne landings took place between Son and Best on 17, 18 and 19 September. Thousands of American paratroopers and hundreds of gliders with military equipment landed here in the landing zones. This operation called 'Market Garden' was intended to capture a strip of land and occupy roads and bridges. The British would then easily be able to advance on it to Arnhem. The capture of the Wilhelmina Canal failed because the Germans blew up the bridge. On September 19 the Americans nevertheless won a victory with the help of British tanks. Then the western part of the landing zone had to be secured and Best liberated, but that was not easy. The occupiers had put up heavy defenses in Best. Ultimately, the soldiers managed to free Best on October 24 after more than a month of fighting.