This is the third Battleground title on the Rhine Crossing. It covers the airborne aspects of the operation, focusing on the British 6th Airborne Division, but also includes sufficient background to place VARSITY into its correct context alongside the other operations to cross Germany’s last strategic barrier. It includes details of XII Corps’s assault crossing, as ignoring the troops who were to ‘relieve’ 6th Airborne in a closely coordinated plan would paint an incomplete picture.
Operation PLUNDER was the overall name for 21st Army Group’s crossing of the Rhine but each of the major elements was known by its own codeword – VARSITY the airborne operation, TURNSCREW and TORCHLIGHT the British assault river crossings, WIGEON the attack by 1 Commando Brigade on Wesel and FLASHLIGHT the XVI US Corps crossing.
The airborne plan incorporated virtually every lesson of the disaster that befell 6th Airborne Divisions ‘brother division’ at Arnhem. Gone were the cavalier assumptions that the war would be over quickly and easily after the Germans’ collapse in Normandy. In fact, the enemy was showing every sign of fighting to the bitter end, arguably as a result of the Allied insistence on unconditional surrender. The depth of the liaison between the ground troops and the airborne element was remarkable. Plans, amongst others, were made to ensure that there was a prompt link up and that, in the event of difficulty, there would be communications to facilitate an appropriate and timely response.
As is my practice I have standardized a number of place names with the modern spelling as found on signposts, chief of these is DIESERFORDTERWALD, which had a variety of spellings in both Allied and German documents and maps.
Acknowledgements
The individual museums of the regiments who took part in the Rhine Crossing and of course the Airborne Forces Museum have, as usual, provided excellent and generous help. I would particularly like to thank ‘Drummie’ Cox of my own regiment, the Devon and Dorsets at Exeter, who provided me with material on 12 Airborne Devons that has not seen the light of day. I am also indebted to Stan Jarvis, who has provided me with a wealth of information on the RAF glider pilots, who so distinguished themselves during the battle. I am similarly grateful to the other veterans who talked to me and provided authoritative written accounts of the battle.
I would also like to thank two friends and colleagues from the Guild of Battlefield Guides, who helped in the researching of this book. Firstly, Major Mike Peters of the Army Air Corps, whose corps, has finally been recognised as successors to the Glider Pilot Regiment with the emblazoning of the GPR battle honours on their colours. Bob Hilton, with over twenty year’s service in the Parachute Regiment, drew my attention to sources and helped me check information on the airborne aspects of the book. I am most grateful to them both for their assistance.
At home or on the ground enjoy the tour of the Operation VARSITY battlefield.
Tim Saunders Warminster 2008
