ndrh1945 - Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity was an airborne operation by the Allied forces on 24 March 1945. Two divisions with almost 20,000 soldiers were deployed on the eastern side of the Rhine between Rees and Wesel to form a bridgehead. Despite the high number of casualties and material losses, the operation was considered a tactical success as all objectives were achieved.

Canadian film footage

British film footage

American film footage

B-24 bombers deliver supplies

A box seat for Churchill

Churchill, Montgomery, Eisenhower

VIPs on the Lower Rhine

On the banks of the Rhine

Canadian film footage

Soldiers of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada cross the Rhine in floating armoured vehicles. The 1st Canadian Parachute Regiment supports the British and Americans. Royal Scots and paratroopers greet each other. Battle scenes from the jump-off area, dead and wounded soldiers.

Quelle: youtube.com / The War Amps / Canadian Army Newsreel
Originaltitel: Canadian Army Newsreel No 67
Länge: 2:30 Minuten (Ausschnitt), mit Ton

British film footage

Use of fog pots and fog generators, arrival of troops and material in the harbour of Antwerp. Landing craft transported on low-loaders along the narrow roads of the Lower Rhine towards the Rhine. Typhoon attacks with rockets on positions in the Wesel area. Artillery fire from British units on the west side of the Rhine

Preparations of the British airborne troops, loading of the Horsa cargo gliders. Scenes from the cockpit of a cargo glider. C47 Dakotas flying in formation, paratroopers jumping off, crash of a Dakota. Scenes in the landing zones, amphibious vehicles crossing the Rhine. Churchill crossing the Rhine and on the right bank of the Rhine.

Quelle: youtube.com / British Pathé
Originaltitel: We Cross The Rhine (1945)
Länge: 7:28 Minuten, mit Ton

American film footage

Waco cargo gliders are loaded. C47 Skytrain with 2 Wacos each take off from French makeshift airfields. Briefing of the American paratroopers. Launch of the C47 Skytrain and C46 Curtiss transporter. Jump from 600 feet over the areas north of Wesel. Transporter crashes after German artillery fire. Advance of the troops of the First Allied Airborne Army.

Quelle: youtube.com / IkeLibrary
Originaltitel: OPERATION VARSITY [WWII] (EL-MP16-58)
Länge: 11:10 Minuten (Ausschnitt), mit Ton

B-24 bombers deliver supplies

Loading the Liberator bombers, approach over the Rhine, dropping the material at low level, shots of the landing and dropping zones, towing aircraft and cargo gliders from a bird's eye view

Quelle: youtube.com / Nuclear Vault
Originaltitel: Liberators over Europe (1942-1945)
Länge: 3:08 Minuten (Ausschnitt), mit Ton

A box seat for Churchill

On March 24, 1945, Churchill watched the Varsity Armada fly over from Fürstenberg, southeast of Xanten. More shots directly on the Rhine.

Quelle: youtube.com / British Pathé
Originaltitel: Churchill - Ike - Monty (1945)
Länge: 5:50 Minuten (Ausschnitt), ohne Ton

Churchill, Montgomery, Eisenhower

Churchill on 25 March 1945 after attending a church service, later with Eisenhower in the Zechenkasino in Kamp-Lintfort.

Churchill, Montgomery and Eisenhower on the balcony of the "Wacht am Rhein" restaurant in Büderich.

Churchill climbs through the rubble of the destroyed Rheinbabenbrücke.

Quelle: youtube.com / British Pathé
Originaltitel: Churchill - Ike - Monty (1945)
Länge: 2:38 Minuten, ohne Ton

VIPs on the Lower Rhine

Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery, Churchill, Alanbrooke and Simpson are briefed on the progress of the invasion on 25 March 1945 on the Lower Rhine.

Quelle: youtube.com / Stadt Wesel
Originaltitel: Liberation Route - Die Rheinüberquerung der Alliierten in Wesel
Länge: 5:34 Minuten, mit deutschem Ton

On the banks of the Rhine

Wounded German prisoners of war are taken to the left bank of the Rhine. Churchill on the banks of the Rhine inspecting the troops.

Quelle: youtube.com / British Pathé
Originaltitel: Churchill at River Crossing (1945)
Länge: 3:09 Minuten, ohne Ton

ndrh1945 - the website with film footage from the last months of the Second World War on the Lower Rhine. Recordings from Kleve, Goch, Weeze, Kalkar, Sonsbeck, Xanten and other places.