- Waal River Crossing
(Waalcrossing)
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Third Battalion 504,
H & I Companies were the first to cross the Waal River in
small canvas/wood boats. First battalion crossed after 11 of
the 26 boats returned. The German artillery was able to mow them
down as they crossed. In spite of heavy casualties, the men of
the 504 prevailed and captured their objective, the North end
of the Bridges at Nijmegen. The picture below is a photocopy
of a photograph of a mural painted in honor of those who participated
in the crossing. (Jan Bos writes: The painting belongs to the
Liberation Museum 1944 at Groesbeek and will be on display soon
when the museum is going to expand. The smaller picture is part
of a wall in the museum. The picture of the crossing is actual
of painting that became a dustjacket for a book on the 82nd Airborne
Division - sold out - no English translation.)
Below: "Five Times Across"
by Rick Reeves (refers to the engineers of the 307 who rowed
across the Waal River five times to get the paratroopers across.
Below: Photograph
of book cover that featured the mural
Below: Photograph
of Groesbeek Museum Diarama that depicts the Waalcrossing.
Below: A photo of
one of the actual paddles used in the Waal River Crossing
- Below: Map of Waalcrossing.
- H & I Companies
proceed along the river to help capture the railroad
and road bridges later in the day.
Many Thanks to M.
Versteegh, Jan Bos, and others in Holland for the pictures and
information!! |