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

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Elsewhere on the Web • Nijmegen 4-Days Walk

We go down the access road to the main road and walk to the first T and make a left. This takes us though south Nijmegen, the suburbs of Brakkestein and Grootstal, and the cafes and restaurants open early so we can get a good cup of expresso to help open our eyes. We continue on and get to Malden. Just beyond Malden I drop down at the first rest area of the day. I am feeling it now. This is going to be a long day.

After the Rest Area One we push on to Mook. Mook was a critical area for the battle of Nijmegen. Prior to the battle and the air drops the British had a Corps of Germans squeezed into a corner of Holland, in the vicinity of the Sheldte Estuary. Due to logistics, mainly supply, they were unable to close the gap on these troops, and with daring and precision the Germans were able to ferry over 80,000 troops and their equipment off the estuary and onto mainland Holland. Many of these troops ended up in Mook. General Gavin was horrified at the appearance of these troops and having many British and American troops in Nijmegen after the capture of the bridge into Nijmegen, he feared losing his gains.

On the far side of Mook we cross the Maas River, in this area a canal and system of locks, and at the far end of the bridge there is a memorial to the American 82nd Airborne and the XXX Corps British Armor personnel who dropped or advanced there and secured this particular bridge. It is in the form of a chrome parachute descending.

We make our way through a quiet area of Middelaar, Plasmolen, Millsbeek, and Breedeweg. Between Millsbeek and Breedeweg are the "Seven Sisters", rolling hills which can strike fear into may marchers. The first two are noticeable but they become mild beyond that.

Then on to Groesbeek.
Groesbeek has tremendous significance, and many events associated with Operation Market Garden. It was through here many Germans passed through and there were scenes of great confusion as German soldiers, fed up with the war, made attempts to get into flee to Germany. This was also the area where the 505th and 508th Regiments of the 82nd Airborne dropped. One story has it that a P-51 pilot made a forced belly landing amidst the troops in this area, leaped from his cockpit and ran to a soldier nearby, and seized a weapon. The pilot claimed to the soldier who gave him the weapon he knew where the gunner was and he was going to get him. The status and welfare of the pilot afterwards had never been determined.

To the south and north of Groesbeek the 505th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne dropped, and to the north the 508th. (The 504th dropped in the vicinity of the memorial near Mook).

On one occasion an American Captain landed on top of a German anti-aircraft battery on the Groesbeek Heights (also southeast of Groesbeek) and captured the entire crew single handed. Fighting was grievous in this area and the Germans sent an array of troops against the 82nd including Luftwaffe and Naval personnel to push the airborne troops off the Heights.

Today however, the citizens of Groesbeek greet us with enthusiasm. It is the last large town of the day. After Groesbeek we enter into the countryside and it is a lonely stretch other than the comradeship of our fellow marchers. The 3rd rest area is just beyond Groesbeek and I take a much needed rest. The pain is setting in and doubt again becomes a matter to deal with. Getting started again after this rest is an ordeal.

The route from the rest area takes us to Hengstdal and here we leave the civilian marchers and turn down a lonely country roads towards Camp Huemensoord. I am falling behind again and have to push to stay on schedule and not be late. I get in at 1650, much too close for comfort.

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