Hell's Highway: Holland: September 17-October 1, 1944 Summary and Analysis

Easy Company encountered its first major setback during its Holland operation, named Market-Garden. The objective of Market-Garden was to take control of a major road and its bridges, where supply convoys could travel. The operation began as planned. In fact, the paratroopers completed their most successful landing to date. Market-Garden caught the Germans by surprise. American troops marched south, to a village called Son. The Dutch people welcomed the soldiers. Easy Company continued and led the march to Neunen, with little resistance. When the company reached Neunan, the Germans had organized its counterattack. German tanks eradicated Easy Company's supporting British tanks, forcing the company to fall back and retreat to a nearby village for the night. The Germans pushed forward, intent on moving past Neunan to cut off the major road, dubbed Hell's...