The war museum
In May 1994 the Arnhem war museum 40-45 opened its doors to the public.
It includes a a collection of weapons, uniforms and many other objects
both military and civilian, which together give a good picture of daily
life in this period.
When entering the museum one steps back in time, right into situations
represented faithfully as they occurred during the Second World War.
Peep into the office of a German occupier, see how the Dutch people managed
to get through this difficult time living by their wits, while awaiting
the liberation.
The museum has a special interest in a British infantry Division which
had the polar bears emblem, originally this unit had to protect Iceland
in case Great Britain was occupied by German forces. Since "Operation
Sealion" was cancelled, it
took part in the liberation of the European continent and especially
Holland.
49th (West
Riding) Infantry Division
From 1940 to 1942 they guarrisoned in Iceland, which earned them the
title to wear the insignia of the Polar Bear.
After the Battle for Normandy, the Polar Bears took a major part in the
capture of Le Havre, campaigned vigorously in Belgium and Holland, and
guarrisoned the island between Arnhem and Nijmegen during the winter
of 1944. They captured Arnhem and advanced into North-West Holland to
relieve Utrecht and the Hilversum.
The "Recce" regiment put its armoured cars first into Amsterdam.
In the last weeks of the war they brought food supplies into starving
Holland.
All of which amounts to a fine record. Around 1.500 Polar Bears were
killed in action.
More information
is provided here via
the Polar Bear Association.
The official website
of the Arnhem War Museum stands here.
Historical information
Operation Market-Garden concisted of two parts:
a) “Market”: the capture of the bridges over the rivers
and canals between Eindhoven and Arnhem by American, British and Polish
airborne
troops.
b) “Garden”: the
simultaneous advance of the ground troops of British 30 Corps from the
Belgian/Dutch border to beyond
the great
rivers. Once over the Rhine, the Ruhr area could be quickly surrounded.
Then, a rapid advance along the German lower plains and Berlin could
be reached. In view of the spectaculary rapid advance by the Allies through
France and Belgium, and the resulting German panic, little heavy opposition
was expected. Optimism that the operation would be a success was high;
the war could be over before Christmas 1944. The complete plan was the
brainchild of Filed Maershall B. Montgomery.
Note: 36 Dutch soldiers took part in Operation Market Garden.
Location information
The museum is accommodated
in the old village school of Schaarsbergen, just north of Arnhem in
the Netherlands.
The museum
is located at
200
km of
Liège (Belgium).
Personal note
There are volunteers to give you a guided tour if you wish and to answer
all your questions.
There is also a museum shop where you can acquire souvenirs including
several military items.
The museum includes a Soviet T34/85 tank under German markings.
