Overloon, Holland September/October 1944
During the weeks following the unsuccessful Allied airborne operation at Arnhem, British and American troops were involved in fierce fighting around the village of Overloon to the south-east of Nijmegen in Holland.
The failure at Arnhem meant plans to enter Germany by the northern route over the River Rhine had to change. The new plan was to attack directly east against the German 'West Wall', also known as the Siegfried Line; crossing the River Maas in Holland; move into Germany and cross the Rhine from within.
To do this, Allies had to eliminate German forces around the bridgehead near Venlo. But before an attack against Venlo could begin, the Allies needed to capture the towns of Overloon and Venray. The operation was codenamed "Aintree", taking place between the end of September and mid November 1944
Today at Overloon is the Dutch National War & Resistance Museum, a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made, set a in the forest where some of the fiercest fighting was experienced during the battle.