The Battle of the Nijmegen salient or the Defence of the Nijmegen bridgehead was a series of engagements that took place in the Netherlands during World War II between 30 September and 8 October 1944. The battle occurred in the aftermath of Operation Market Garden, a failed attempt by the Allies to cut off German forces in the Netherlands and end the war quickly.
Walter Model who commanded German forces during Market Garden attempted to regain the Nijmegen salient which had been seized by the allies in an effort to contain the offensive and drive them off the Betuwe, which became known as 'the Island.' Wilhelm Bittrich led II SS Panzer Korps in the counter offensive, in particular with the aim of retaking Nijmegen and its bridges. German forces were not prepared to make assaults and many units were without tank support. 21st Army Group under the command of Bernard Montgomery commanded the area from Southern Holland to the North sea area. British forces on the island were led by General Ivor Thomas who commanded an ad hoc force assembled to defend the area. Despite losing some ground, the British managed to repel all the attacks. British troops then launched a counter attack from October 4, and managed to recapture all of the lost ground and gained a number of villages. The British were then reinforced by the US 101st Airborne Division and further German efforts were again defeated. When the Arnhem road bridge was destroyed by US medium bombers on October 7, sporadic fighting continued for a further three days but the Germans called off any major assault. The Germans suffered heavy casualties in infantry and tanks. 21st Army Group already committed to the defence of the salient, sent resources to open up the Scheldt estuary.
Background
In September 1944, the Allies had launched Operation Market Garden, a major offensive from the Dutch-Belgian border across the south of the Netherlands through Eindhoven and Nijmegen toward the Rhine bridge at Arnhem. The goal was to cross the Rhine and bypass the Siegfried Line in preparation for the final drive towards Berlin but also to cut off the Germans still in Holland. Allied airborne troops managed to take the bridges but delays and toughening resistance resulted in defeat at the Rhine bridge in Arnhem. The advance stopped south of the Lower Rhine, resulting in a narrow salient that ran from the north of Belgium across the south-east of the Netherlands, and was vulnerable to attack. The area between the Rhine and Waal rivers became the new frontline on the Betuwe, also known as 'the island' to the allies.
During the latter stages of Market Garden, the British 43rd Wessex Division had moved up in order to relieve the Guards Armoured Division. Elements of the 43rd took Oosterhout from the Germans on 22 September, and then gained Opheusden and Doodewaard the following day, but they were unable to push the frontline any further. The Household cavalry managed to reach the Polish Parachute Brigade at Driel following which 4th Dorsets attempted to reinforce 1st Airborne division but suffered heavy losses after crossing the river. A conference had already been held at Valburg and a decision was made that 1st Airborne should be evacuated. This was achieved successfully at night in Operation Berlin on 25/26 September. With the completion of the evacuation General Ivor Thomas was made responsible for the defence of The Island. The 5th Guards and 8th Armoured Brigades as well as the 69th Infantry Brigade were placed under his command. In reserve was the 151st Infantry Brigade and 231st Brigade from 50th Northumbrian Division which had come up in support.