the defences and further depleted
the division’s meagre supplies.
A crucial break in the weather
nally allowed the RAF to provide
air support. Typhoons and
Thunderbolts ew continuous
combat missions, strang German
positions throughout the day and
even engaging in dogghts with the
Luftwaffe. On Saturday afternoon,
the RAF attempted one last
resupply ight from Britain, but the
mission was a costly failure, with
eight aircraft lost and little benet
to the men on the ground.
South of the river, the Poles prepared for another attempt at a
crossing. The assault boats from XXX Corps, which Urquhart had been
desperately counting on, were delayed until after midnight, and many
arrived without oars. Despite these setbacks and with re support from
the 43rd Wessex Division, the crossings began at 03:00. However,
in the remaining hours of darkness, only 153 men managed to get
across—a frustratingly small fraction of the reinforcements Urquhart
needed to save the bridgehead.
25 September – Evacuation
By 25 September, it was clear that the position could not be held
indenitely. Urquhart coordinated the nal defensive efforts and the
safe withdrawal of the remaining troops as part of Operation Berlin.
This withdrew the remaining men across the Rhine overnight on the
25-26 September to Driel. The men followed the white ribbon laid out
to guide their way to the river where boats provided by British and
Canadian engineers were waiting for them.
Of the 10,000 men who had landed at Arnhem, only around 2,163
were successfully evacuated.
Above: The famous photo of
Urquhart in front of the Hartenstein
Hotel.