More of this Feature • Introduction • Day 1 • Day 2 • Day 3 • Day 4

Related Resources • Gary's Nijmegen 2001 Walk • Wendy's Nijmegen '99

From Other Guides • Europe for Visitors

Elsewhere on the Web • Nijmegen 4-Days Walk

The route of Day One takes us through Nijmegen and the sleeping city is barely stirring this early. Some of the all night revelers have stayed up an extra hour to encourage us and those who have sobered up sufficiently and can recognize the flags call out the names of the countries. On the other side of the town we come to the main bridge over the River Waal. This was the main prize of the 82nd Airborne as well as two others in the area. Fierce fighting on the east side of the bridge cost numerous Americans their lives. Thoughts go out to these guys as we cross the bridge.

At the far end of the bridge we turn left and head for Lent, walking for a short piece west. As one looks out across the dike and into an open field one can see the landing zone of one of the Brigades, dropping nearly into the lap of the occupying forces. From here they moved into Lent and begun the struggle to cross the Waal and take the bridge.

Lent gives us the customary warm welcome and I pass out some National Guard pencils to the early risers. I admire children that can get up this early, so I always give out my souvenirs to these kids before 9am.

We then move north towards Bemmell. Here British forces struggled to get to the Rhine and the opposite side of Oosterhout to relieve the trapped 1st British Airborne Division. Another warm welcome from the townspeople.

The next town is Elst, just before the halfway point. Here the British engaged the Germans in fierce fighting to maintain control of the perimeter that surrounded Arnhem. This is also the closest we come to Oosterhout which is where the Red Devils of the 1st Division regrouped when the bridge at Arnhem when it was determined the bridge could not be taken.

Of 10,005 who went in, over 7,500 became casualties after fighting hand to hand and capturing German weapons and continuing to fight, believing relief was on its way…for four days, when it was promised in two. It has been recorded that only 1200 of the Red Devils were able to cross the river back towards Nijmegen, rescued through efforts of the British and Americans troops fighting north towards them.

Just beyond the second rest area we come to Valburg. After passing through Valburg we come back around to the other side of Lent. Just before we enter the town there is a memorial on the right to those who jumped into the area and fought for the bridges, hoping to create a springboard into Germany and cause an early end of the war.

We re-cross the bridge back into Nijmegen. Everyone is up now and ready for a party. The streets are clogged in a few places. Once through the town and beyond the civilians the road opens up and we ease in for dinner.

 

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