A is for Arnhem: A Bridge Too Far

On 17 September 1944 thousands of paratroopers descended from the sky by parachute or glider up to 150 km behind enemy lines. Their goal: to secure to bridges across the rivers in Holland so that the Allied army could advance rapidly northwards and turn right into the lowlands of Germany, hereby skirting around the Siegfried line, the German defence line. If all carried out as planned it should have ended the war by Christmas 1944.

Unfortunately this daring plan, named Operation Market Garden, didn't have the expected outcome. The bridge at Arnhem proved to be 'a bridge too far'. After 10 days of bitter fighting the operation ended with the evacuation of the remainder of the 1st British Airborne Division from the Arnhem area.

http://www.rememberseptember44.com

During our cruise in spring, 2011, with Viking River Cruises, we visited the city of Arnhem in The Netherlands. Our ship, the Viking Pride was berthed in full view of the bridge whose loss meant so much in the second World War.

Posted for the letter A
in Mrs. Nesbitt's alphabetical meme
ABC Wednesday
To see how other bloggers used the letter A, please click  HERE!

Stairway Reflections and Shadows, Antwerp

© Photo by Richard Schear 

This fascinating winding stairway in Antwerp isn't something I would care to climb! However, during our spring cruise in Belgium and The Netherlands with Viking River Cruises, my husband knew I'd love the stairway's shadows and its reflections in the doors, as well as other reflections in this shot of Belgian brick architecture. There are even shadows and reflections in the lamp post!

Posted for

Weekend Reflections

and also for

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Watery Wednesday — "A Bridge Too Far"

Ghostly shapes seem to float around the John Frost Bridge across the lower Rhine River in the Netherlands city of Arnhem. Many lives were lost in 1944 when Allied forces, against enormous odds, tried to liberate the city. Although the battle ended in a victory for Germany, two movies were made about the determination of the Allied forces: Theirs is the Glory (British, 1946) and A Bridge Too Far (American, 1977). The city of Arnhem was eventually liberated by Canadian and British forces in 1945.

We visited Arnhem during our spring cruise with Viking River Cruises this year, when the Viking Pride (not visible here) anchored near the bridge.

© Photo by Kay Davies 

Posted for

Watery Wednesday

where, each week, 2sweetnsaxy invites us to "get our eyes wet" in photos.

To see what scenes wet the eyes of other photo-bloggers, please click

HERE!

Watery Wednesday: Arnhem, The Netherlands

"A duck too far"

Photo by Richard Schear

While visiting Arnhem during our rivers and canals cruise aboard Viking Pride,

Dick took this photo of a duck making an on-the-water takeoff.

This is one of my favorite watery photos ever — even better when enlarged.

Posted for Watery Wednesday hosted by

2sweetnsaxy of T. Bruce Photography.

To see what made other photographers get their eyes wet, please click
HERE!