A BRIDGE TOO FAR | Cycling to Arnhem - WW2 Airborne Operations OPERATION MARKET GARDEN John Frost

Cycling in Holland along historic routes from WW2. This video is my second day from Zeeland to Arnhem, about 90-95km
BACKGROUND
Operation Market Garden 17th September 1944
The operation consisted of an airborne component (called 'Market'), undertaken by the First Allied Airborne Army (US, English, and Polish parachute regiments, more popularly known as Paras), and a land operation (called 'Garden') headed by XXX Corps of the British Second Army.
Market's goal was to drop airborne forces over multiple drop zones in occupied territory to quickly secure the bridges over key water crossings. In an orchestrated plan, the Garden troops would advance forward from liberated Belgium into the Netherlands at Lommel, help secure the bridges, and thus 'easily' push on towards Arnhem with heavier military equipment. This combined air and ground offensive was to create a 103 km (64 miles) long corridor for the Allied forces.
This Mini Series "Hell's Highway"
I'm riding 240 km on a brand new cycle route aimed at honoring and remembering the sacrifice of the Allied Troops during the liberation of Europe. The route name "Hell's Highway", was given to the main single track road between the Belgium Border and the Town of Arnhem in Holland. It was officially known as Route 69, but also called "The Club Route" or "The Corridor". But because of the deadly encounters with the the Nazi enemy, the route quickly acquired its nickname.
The route is a collaboration between the Liberation Route Europe foundation (represented by Wout Van Aalst) and Mr Bart Verhulst the creator of the website marketgarden.cc.
*External media supplied and credited to Liberation Route Europe Foundation with kind permission.
For information:
Barts cycling website:P
www.marketgard...
Liberation Route App
www.liberation...
The Freedom Museum:
vrijheidsmuseu...
EERDE WINDMILL MUSEUM: 101st Airboune Division Screaming Eagles
www.tracesofwa...
LIBERATION GARDEN
WWII MUSEUM LEOPOLDSBURG
liberationgard...
Cycling App in Netherlands:
www.fietsknoop...
or,
www.nederlandf...
Fietsknoop biking and hiking.
A do-it-all planner
routeplanner.f...
CAMERAS:
Panasonic LUMIX GH5
GoPro 10 Black
DRONE:
DJI MAVIC AIR

[@kimberlypeterson794]

My son and I used your videos to help plan out our ride March 2024. Bart’s website was also extremely helpful. This ride absolutely combined my two passions history and cycling. Thank you for doing a wonderful job :)

[@divum]

That's brilliant. I'm glad it helped. 👍🏻🚴🏼

[@rghounds]

Fantastic. I really enjoyed the series. A lovely touch at the end too. Thank you.

[@divum]

Thank you for your nice comment. I'm really pleased you liked the series. ATB 🪖🚴🏼

[@Tony-ug1mv]

Excellent series of videos Andrew. Reminds me so much of our beloved Norfolk just without those superb cycling roads. Well done Captain 👍

[@divum]

Thanks, Tony. I really appreciate your support. Yes, indeed, Holland is familiar to Norfolk. Take care 👍🏻🪖🇬🇧🇳🇱🚴🏼

[@seanmaroney4323]

Fantastic film. Thank you all

[@TheBritshadow]

Thanks to all three of you for keeping the history alive and making it interesting and relevant.
It will no doubt encourage many others to follow in the footsteps of those giants.
Lovely touch at the end with those presentations 👍

[@divum]

Cheers! Thanks for managing to watch the whole video to the end!!!! I appreciate it 🙏 😌 👍🏻🚴🏼

[@BillEvans1956]

I definitely want to cycle this in 2024. Thank you!

[@divum]

Awesome 👌. It should be most memorable. Thanks

[@Biking360]

Thanks for another great ride and look back in history.

[@divum]

Thanks JP. All the best

[@amandamallett4433]

Love cycling by numbers in Holland

[@divum]

Ha! Yes. The Knott system. It works.
Thanks Amanda 👍🏻

[@chrism5433]

Thank you very much . fantastic video. Loved touring holland myself.🍺🍺

[@divum]

Thanks, Chris. I appreciate the comment. 🇳🇱🇬🇧

[@kevinwickham2866]

Thanks for sharing your journey along this route, it has been very interesting and informative.

[@divum]

Thank you Kevin for your kind comment. I appreciate it. 🚴🏼🫡👍🏻

[@lauriebloggs8391]

Absolutely, and what amazing gifts to your companions

[@divum]

@lauriebloggs8391 Thanks, Laurie, not much, but they were personal.

[@lauriebloggs8391]

@@divum That makes them "much" indeed........... 🙂

[@pauldunn1242]

Thank you for a very informative video, I'm heading to this area in July, had cycle toured the Netherlands before but missed the Liberation route, but was 11 years ago now

[@divum]

Thanks Paul. Glad the vid was of some use!

[@boerinmetkoeien7190]

A great video, very interesting, well documented and you have a nice voice to listen to. Thanks for your friendly words about our cycling country. There's also another way for cyclists, the 'old' way and that's by little white road signs with red lettering. What you got with your coffee is quit new here, but a great development! Very nice gesture at the end!!

[@divum]

I always love receiving and reading your comments. You're so supportive. Thanks very much.
I can't wait to ride in Holland again soon👍🏻🚲

[@glendamaganda7338]

Beautiful

[@divum]

Thanks🚴🏼

[@martystacey4429]

Jeezo bro..... It got very, very dusty in here😔Outstanding⚔🇬🇧KTF🙏

[@divum]

Thank you very much. It was a lot of work to edit this video, but I did it from my heart, so it is what it is 🫡....(could do with a few more views though 🤔)

[@georgerobartes2008]

As a Brit , I normally pay respect to the fallen of the British Airborne at the cemetery 5 minutes up the road from Arnhem at Oosterbeek and take in the Airborne Museum nearby , but this is by no means compulsory and each to their own especially with the BoB Fan Boys Association that plague the area .
It's also worth studying the whole operation in detail particularly the events surrounding the delay by Gavin to take Nijmegen that spelt death for the rest of the operation in order to present history accurately and dispel myths . Maybe next year at the 80th Anniversary ? See you there ?

[@divum]

Thanks for your great comment. You're right about the history... There was always tension between Monty and the Americans... And yes, I'll be riding the route next year 2024! 🚴🏼🤞ATB

[@tarquinmidwinter2056]

I'm British (now also Dutch) and live not far from this area. There's so much to see scattered over such a wide area that you can't see it all in one day's bike ride, so if you're going to end up in Arnhem approaching it from the south, then you'll miss out on Oosterbeek and the drop site at Ginkelse Heide, both of which are must see places. There was a big and very moving ceremony at Ginkelse Heide for the 75th anniversary. Parachutists from various countries including Germany took part. I'll go again if they do one this year for the 80th. Great video, btw.

[@divum]

@tarquinmidwinter2056 thanks for your comment. I'm looking forward to a re-riun this September....I'm going to concentrate on 1 UK Division locations....Oosterbeek etc. ATB