Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery

Following the Normandy landings of June 1944, the Allied advance through northern Europe was extraordinarily rapid and on 11 September 1944, the Second Army entered the Netherlands just south of Eindhoven, the first Allied troops to set foot in the country since its fall in May 1940. Their next aim was to cross the Rhine before the Germans had time to reorganise after their recent setbacks, securing crossings over the rivers and canals that stood in their path at Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem. Operation Market Garden would involve the United States 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions, the Commonwealth 1^st Airborne Division and the Polish Parachute Brigade. On 17 September 1944, the 1^st Airborne Division began landing west of Arnhem, but German resistance, bad weather and problems with supplies and reinforcements led to heavy losses, and their objectives were not taken. They were forced to form a perimeter at Oosterbeek which they held stubbornly until 25 September, when it was decided to withdraw the remnants of the division across the lower Rhine. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery contains the graves of most of those killed during the September landings, and many of those killed in later fighting in the area. There are now 1,680 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 245 of the burials are unidentified and two casualties are commemorated by special memorials. There are also 73 Polish, three Dutch and three non-war (former Commission employees) graves in the cemetery.

Directions

The city of Arnhem is in the east of the Netherlands, the village of Oosterbeek is 7 kilometres west of Arnhem. From the A12 Motorway Den Haag to Arnhem take exit 25 (Afrit 25) N224 Oosterbeek / Wolfheze. Follow the signs for Oosterbeek. After approx 3.5 kilometres turn right (CWGC Sign) onto the Dreyenseweg. Continue for approx 2 kilometres and turn left (CWGC sign) onto Van Limburg Stirumweg. After approx 1 kilometre the cemetery can be found on the left side. The cemetery address is:- Van Limburg Stirumweg 6861 WL Oosterbeek, Netherlands.

GPS Location is:- N 51 59 35 E 05 50 54.