Onderlangs Street - Arnhem

Onderlangs Street

The 1st Parachute Brigade and their battalions tried to fight their way in to Arnhem on September 17 1944. The 2nd battalion under Lt. Col Frost was the only one to make it and set up their defenses at the northern end of the bridge. Both the 1st and 3rd battalion were heavily beaten by the German troops of the 9th SS Armoured Artillery Regiment under command of Ludwig Spindler. The British paras would try again the next day.

When night fell in Arnhem on the 17th Spindler’s force grew stronger as more German reinforcements arrived in Arnhem and took up positions on the western perimeter. This also meant that they took the southern road that led to the bridge. Lt. Col. John Frost was now cut off from the rest of the division.
The 1st and 3rd battalion moved south at Onderlangs to attempt a breakthrough to reach the bridge. Their attack started early in the morning of the 18th but they were stopped between the St. Elizabeth Hospital and the museum..