As a young G.I. in 1984 I got to march across the bridge during the annual "Nijmegen Marches," or "Vierdaagse" in Dutch. It was a great time, and I really enjoyed the historic significance and Dutch hospitality!
I think almost every NATO member country sent teams, and even some non-NATO countries were represented. As you know, we marched 40km per day for four days, and we tried to drain the Netherlands of beer every night!
Hey, you were in my city! So amazing to see that bridge that I drive across every day holds such a special place to you. You should have come in the summer, There's like popup cafe's underneath it where people can sit and relax, enjoy a band. or DJ. The Waalbrug as we call it is special to the people of Nijmegen. It is our symbol and driving across it from north to south feels like coming home. To the west, where the the brave men of the 82nd crossed the river in little boats, a new bridge has been built, exactly where they crossed, which is now called The Crossing in their honor. It has 48 lights, one for each soldier that died in the crossing and they go on every evening, one at a time. And people walk along the lights, the Sunset March, every evening.
@@MarkFeltonProductions Believe me, we want nothing more. The bridge was receiving major renovations 2 years ago. But it ended up costing too much, so the national government, which paid for it, decided to skip the paintjob and postpone it. Much to the chagrin of the locals, but there is little we can do. The paint that was used in the previous renovation is a little, shall we say, toxic? It requires specialist treatment to remove. Although if it were up to me I'd round up the local football hooligans. It's mostly their stupid graffiti that's on it.
I took part in the Nijmegen marches back in 1969 and earned myself the Queen Juliana medal. It was a brilliant four-day march and the Dutch were fantastic. I had two beautiful Dutch girls holding my hands, encouraging me, for the last two miles. One of my most treasured memories.
WOW! I live in Nijmegen! I am 16 and have been interested in Nijmegen and history in general. I could tell you everything about my city and the history of my province, Gelderland! If you’d like to see photos and original maps of Nijmegen, you can ask me! Thank you for making this video!
This is nothing to do with history but your hometown team of NEC Nijmegen are the only other football team in the world apart from the team I support (Glentoran FC) who play in red, green and black.
I did the same drive about 6 years ago, also fulfilling a childhood dream. Thanks for the A Bridge Too Far music as well. One of the great soundtracks of all time. God bless!
In the September 1987 I rode my Suzuki 1100 motorcycle the whole length of the XXX Corps planned route. It gave a whole different appreciation of the scale of the plan and why it proved to be impossible in the final execution despite huge effort by all the troops involved. Brave men and much blood on a perfect plan that didn't have enough margin for the myriad of small things that always go wrong. As the saying goes, No plan survives first contact with the enemy.
My grandfather was 82nd airborne 504th and a pathfinder for the whole war. He jumped into Graves as a pathfinder and joined up with a heavy weapons platoon stick before taking over the now Thompson bridge in Graves. What most people dont know if they base their knowledge of the battle in Nijmegen off the movie was a bit different than real life. The island in the Waal was not there in 44. My grandfather crossed in the 2nd and 3rd crossing of the river. He had to actually cross back and get another radio with the return trip as his first was shot. There was multiple crossings. Secondly the battle across the river was not fast like in the movie. It took them almost 7 hours of fighting to reach the north end of the bridge from the shore. Besides that my grandfather said the movie wasn't all of that off. They did have to use their rifles to paddle as they did not have enough paddles. There were snipers in the bridge itself. There was also another unit with the boats getting them across who would take them back for the next wave. I don't have the papers on me and can't say which exact unit. The battle was fierce and he really liked the movie. A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting and staying in a boat hotel under the bridge. There's an amazing museum nearby in Groesbeck. Also the sunset bridge memorial crossing was amazing.
As a history person living in Nijmegen i never expected there to be any interest in the city from outside. Cool to see people show interest from the outside. Also, if you ever visit again, i do some hardcore metal-detecting and digging around the area, since your grandfather was in the 82nd, i have some relics for you that you can have. :) mainly some 82nd parachute pieces and parachute coords. I also have some empty M1 clips i found near the bridge if you want them. I always try and find relics with names on them so i can return them to either family or the vet himself, but i havent bin lucky yet. Would be cool to return some related relics to you.
Some years ago I spoke to a veteran of the battle, he was in the Royal Artillery and had to set up AA batteries around the bridge, there were two really harrowing memories in particular that haunted him all his life and part of his suggested therapy was to talk about it more and to re-visit the bridge which he did with his family, he said to me it all seemed a bit silly and unnecessary to go all that way when he was fine about it, until he clapped eyes on that bridge again, the next thing he knew he was running full tilt on that motorway to get across and only his young son in law was quick enough to catch him and prevent him causing an accident, after that day he said he realised he had to start listening to people and taking advice on how to deal with his PTSD, He was a lovely genuine guy and I was honoured and humbled that he chose to share his experience's with me that day.
Dr, Felton, thank you for this episode it brought back memories for me, of a time when history was still taught in High School. Back in the 70s, I had a professor who was dedicated, a gift to his profession and students. thank you for your dedication to history and teaching the facts.
Nijmegen has been through so much throughout history, sadly alot of that has been destroyed or demolished but gladly the bridge still stands. I love sitting near the river with the bridge in the background
I was there with my band back in the early 90's and we had a few hours of free time, and I was able to walk through the very area of the fighting. Walking in the same footsteps of great people is good enough for a humble man such as myself. We drove over the bridge the day after our show. It's a sacred place where heroes fought and died on both sides.
This video is a little funny to me because unlike your normal videos with well-researched and thorough scripts, it didn't teach us a huge load of information. But this is one of my favorite videos you've done because it's such a historically significant place and you've presented it in a scale and grandeur that it deserves from that event. Great stuff as always!
The Nijmegen bridge that was filmed in "a bridge to far " was filmed in Nijmegen at the original bridge . I was at the bridge the day the filmed was taken . There was no normal traffic ,only the tanks,infantery etc. ( German first and British /American later )It was an exiting day ! "The bridge to far "in Arnhem was taken in Deventer. Reason was that in Deventer the municipality cooperated willingly and there where a lot of similair buildings around the bridge (although fake building were build as well.) Dear Dr.Felton you did a good job .
@@389383 Do you know about all of the ancient Petroglyphs and pictographs all around the world? They are the same thing as what is presently called "tagging"
If you visit Nijmegan, try and go to Grosbeek, there are areas where the gliders landed and the wood held by the Germans who pinned the allied forces down, My uncle was a para at Nijmegem and every evening the bridge lights illuminate one by one to remember the fallen, very emotional.
One of my favorite movies. A bridge too far!! I watched these movies as a kid over and over. What a thrill to actually be there. I would have walked the bridge and definitely gone to Arnhem! Thanks for showing us what the bridge looks like today.
And Mark, did you notice the large concrete roadblocks at the side of the road at the north end of the bridge? They were found 15 years ago when there was a large reconstruction of the road (and even the river, there are now 2 streams instead of one). In this video you can see them at 2:30 when the Shermans drive around them. After the war (or maybe already in the winter of 1944?) the engineers simply buried them on the spot were they were standing because they were much too heavy to lift. No explosives needed to get them out of the way! When they were found they even had the white stripes and original painted wooden arrow pointing the direction for the traffic in good shape on them. Unfortunately they placed them beside the road in the open air and now the stripes are gone and the wooden parts are stolen by WW2 souvenir hunters. But they are still original remarkable remains at the spot.
Nice to see the bridge I live nearby featured by such a big channel! Did you know the other bridge near it (not the train but the "Oversteek") has 48 pairs of light on it that light up each night one by one, remembering each of the falling soldiers during this operation. Every night, veterans march this bridge in remembrance of this since 2013. Every night, for nearly 10 years, and it's still going on. Everyone is welcome to join as well, it's called the "Sunset March"
A few years back I was quite excited to find myself near Arnhem. Even though I know the Arnhem bridge was destroyed I thought it would have been interesting to see the site. As it turned out we stayed too long at the Son-in-laws parents in Deventer. As we were leaving I looked up at the Deventer Bridge and said, "Hey! This looks like..." Apparently they made the movie "A Bridge Too Far" using the Deventer Bridge as it resembled the Arnhem Bridge during the war. Or so I was told by my son-in-law.
The Arnhem bridge was built in 1936, demolished by the Dutch Army in 1940, rebuilt to the same design and opened in August 1944. The paint was still curing in September when it was set on fire by the British flame thrower attack duringthe operation. It was then bombed by the USAAF after Market Garden in October 1944, and finally replaced with the original design again in 1950. The bridge itself looks exactly like the original, but the surrounding buildings are modern office blocks replacing the original housing, so it was unsuitable for filming. Deventer has a bridge of the same design and the town looks like wartime Arnhem. It also had a convenient car park next to the bridge ramp, so they constructed fake houses on that area which they could destroy as the battle progresses through the film.
Interresting movie fact: The Arnhem part of the movie A bridge too far wasn't shot at the Arnhem bridge. When they went scouting for locations for the movie, they found that there was nothing left from the old situation surrounding the bridge so they filmed that part at a very similar bridge in Deventer, 35km from Arnhem at the Wilhelmina bridge. They even rebuilt houses near the bridge specifically for the movie.
I was stationed in West Germany 83-85. far too young to have appreciated the sites I could have seen. Thank you, again, for the adventures in world history.
I am certainly no world traveler, but I was forced to take a business trip to the Netherlands about 20 years ago. I had to stay in Nijmegen during this time. I visited this bridge not really knowing its history (to my great shame). I found the Dutch people to be extremely welcoming to Americans and with a bit of probing found that they loved the Brits even more. And most of the Dutch speak English better than about 90% of us Americans.
Had the pleasure of walking across this bridge back in July during this year’s 4Daagse march as part of one of this year’s USMIL detachments. Whole bunch of fun, makes the Netherlands my favorite country in the world (After America, or course)
I was attending the 4Daagse march this year and because of day 1 cancellation (39 C heat), none of the marchers could go over the Nijmegen bridge. Did get to go over Grave bridge on day 4.
@@Michael-yu2yk that's understandable regards tireness. The last 10 km to Charlotte Field on day 4 - I was literally put 1 foot forward with the only amazing crowd just willing me on. Its an experience. Have to do the full 4 days march in 2023.
My dad was in the 4th Armored Division band 1957-59 and on the anniversary of this battle they played at the ceremony in Nijmegen. Dad’s pics of the event are outstanding. Thanks!
In 1979, while serving as Medical support for the US and NATO troops marching in the yearly 100 km, 4 day march, we crossed that bridge numerous times. Being a student of history, even at the young age of 18, I had goosebumps crossing it. Later, after the march was over, we had a few beers under the bridge with a few locals. Your video brought back some awesome memories!
Absolutely, the Nijmegen bridge is quite spectacular. In the map at 0:34, note the town of Kleve just over the border in Germany. This is the town from which 'Anne of Cleves', queen of England for six months in 1540 and one of the six wives of Henry VIII, derived here original title. I was astounded by this. The casual traveller can get a local bus from Nijmegen to Kleve. So, just for a few Euros (ok, I used Guilders when I was last in Nijmegen), the casual traveller can pass through eras of history. That is what is great about being in Europe.
A remarkable work, thanks Mark. Great narrative. Great editing. I like how you blended the personal (childhood dream) with the historical. Wished that school history lessons had been as captivating. Greetings from Australia.
3-504th PIR, 82nd Abn Div MAJ Julian Cook is still revered today. If you can ever find your way into the HQ of the 1st Bde/504th PIR (the "Devils in Baggy Pants") on Ardennes Street in Fort Bragg, there are exhibits about him there today, and his story is known by most of the regiment's paratroopers. Thanks Mark, great video.
Thank you Dr Felton! This was an inspiring and emotional video to watch. I didn't realize the same bridge seized so heroically and at such great cost by a combined force from each of our nations was still standing to this day.
I've only been abroad once and this is where I went , always been fascinated by operation Market Garden. All because of watching the film as a kid. It's an area well worth visiting.
I cross that bridge about 10 times per year. Whenever you get back here you should go see the John S. Thompson bridge in Grave. In fact a part of Market Garden that did not get a lot of attention but the only part of MG that went very well. Thanks for your video.
Thanks for creating this video and sharing it, Mark! It brings back memories. As a young enlisted Soldier and a member of the U.S. Third Armored Division Band, I was in Nijmegen during the summers of 1976 and 1977, as we supported the troops participating in the famous Nijmegen Marches. This was before I understood the bridge’s historical significance, and before they filmed the movie on location there. I do remember the iconic bridge, nevertheless. I remember watching the movie in the theatre back home after I left active duty when the film was released in 1977, and thinking “I was there!”
There is a Dutch Historian who wrote a book claiming that Nijmegen Bridge is what caused Arnhem to be "A Bridge Too Far". He claims the inability of the 82nd to take the bridge immediately lost vital time which delayed 30 Corps in getting to Arnhem Bridge.
I think you're thinking of Dutch researcher RG Poulussen's book, Lost At Nijmegen (2011), which examined the communications failure between James Gavin (82nd Airborne Division) and Roy Lindquist (508th Parachute Infantry Regiment), which had the mission to take the Nijmegen bridge on the first day of the operation and fatally compromised the operation, contrary to the conventional narrative drawn from Cornelius Ryan's original research for A Bridge Too Far (1974) that failed to uncover this story. Other books which have gone into greater depth: Retake Arnhem Bridge - An Illustrated History of Kampfgruppe Knaust, Bob Gerritsen and Scott Revell (2010) Put Us Down In Hell - A Combat History of the 508th PIR in WW2, Phil Nordyke (2012) September Hope - The American Side of a Bridge Too Far, John C McManus (2012) The 508th Connection, chapter 6 - Nijmegen Bridge, Zig Boroughs (2013) Arnhem 1944: An Epic Battle Revisited vols 1 and 2, Christer Bergström (2019, 2020)
A great film. I have an autographed photo of Sean Connery in British officers uniform apparently made out to a gal connected with the film. The walking in of the artillery barrage toward the viewer was compelling.
My grandfather fought, and sadly died at Nijmegan Bridge. He was with the Hampshire regiment, and is buried at Oosterbeek cemetery. Thank you for the video.
Around 12 Years ago I enjoyed a little Holiday in Holland, and my Hosts took me to Arnhem. We drove across the Bridge and I wish I knew then what I know now! Thank you very much, Dr. Feldman. 🇿🇦
Fun fact: 'A Bridge Too Far' was filmed at Deventer, since the immediate surroundings and buildings around Nijmegen Bridge had changed too much since WW2. Deventer had a similar bridge and the city still resembled a WW2 city.
another plus about the Deventer bridge is that it had houses (roofs) close to the ramp of the bridge ..exactly as required for the original Arnhem bridge...
I was born and raised in this beautiful city, and i still live and work here. It still gives me a warm welcome when i come back from a roadtrip, thats what makes our bridge a special bridge. 😇
Another great job Mark. Thank you. It is good that you do videos like this. The world needs reminded of history and things that have happened. Only by looking back at history can we as humans keep from repeating the same mistakes again.
As someone living within 5min of this bridge and crossing it multiple times a week (by bicycle of course) this video was very interesting to watch. Thanks Dr. Felton!
Nice video about a historic bridge! Also a little glimpse of Dr. Felton's inner child leaked through his subdued British demeanor. There was such excitement to storm the bridge himself!
Thank you Sir! Fantastic job documenting this hallowed crossing, then, and now! The Dutch also have much to proud of as it really is o lovely place. Lovely people. We should never forget these men and their valiant effort to free the world of Tyrany. Thank you Again for sharing!
Wonderful way to knock it off your bucket list. Hope you have a good festive season and thank you for all you research posted here for us to enjoy. Cheers and stay safe.
Good to see you had decent weather. As a non-local, I really hate crossing that thing when it's dark, rainy and busy. Although it's probably less frustrating when you're used to it.
We sure love your history lessons here in America Mr Mark you not only tell the story you many times take us on location of the actual events well done
I visited about 3 years ago and it’s very moving to see the bridge as it would have been so long ago. So many were lost. It’s also worth visiting the bridge museum nearby and the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek (Hartenstein) that was used by Major General Urquhart as his HQ, along with various Airborne Divisions. It featured in the film too and is easily recognised. Highly recommended tour for anyone interested in Market Garden.
@@MarkFeltonProductions Following his death and following this "A Bridge too Far" topic, can you make an episode about ex-SS member and German actor Hardy Krüger?
Did anyone else ever play the old Avalon Hill Wargame "Storm over Arnheim" back in the day? Also, I have to add, the theme song from "A bridge too far is one of the greatest WWII movie themes of all time! (The movie is phenomenal as well!) Excellent video as always Mark!
To be that first guy to charge across the bridge, knowing what stiff resistance awaits him, is truly brave. Ordinary people who do extraordinary things is a true essence of heroism.
The book of Market Garden from the German perspective 'It Never Snows in September' makes some interesting observations: first, that the British paratroopers were correct to land outside of Arnhem and NOT on the bridge, and the only criticism the Germans had was that the South end of the Bridge should have been captured too; but the real problem with Market Garden was far too few infantry on the road through Nijmegen supporting XXX Corps, which meant that small German foot patrols armed with Panzerfausts could simply knock out a few British vehicles and block the road. Two parachute divisions of infantry was simply spread too thinly over sixty miles.
In the movie: “a bridge too far” you clearly see the skyline of Nijmegen. This skyline is absolutely incorrect, this is because Nijmegen was bombed by ‘mistake’ in February of 1944, this took the lives of almost 800 people and destroyed 22.000 homes. All churches and building in the center were destroyed except the ‘molenstraat Church’ and a few buildings on the lower side of the old town. After the war a few of the most important structures were restored to their former glory but the old Nijmegen skyline was for ever changed. In the film they recreated a few of the pre war features of the city, including buildings that were never rebuilt, so they deliberately created the skyline even though it had been destroyed several months earlier.
Interesting as always Dr Felton, thank you. Best wishes for the holidays and continued health and production in 2023. I visited the Market Garden Cemetery at Oosterbeek years ago, what a heart wrenching experience. Cheers from Canada.
Hi Mark, although I’m a follower of your channel, I must have missed this video until now. Very nice you visited my hometown. Not a day is going by that we are thinking of WWII since the heart of Nijmegen was bombed in ‘44. Thank you for making all these very important videos. Best of luck.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
As a young G.I. in 1984 I got to march across the bridge during the annual "Nijmegen Marches," or "Vierdaagse" in Dutch. It was a great time, and I really enjoyed the historic significance and Dutch hospitality!
My elder brother (a British ‘squaddie’) also took part in the Nijmegen Marches around the same time as you.
I think almost every NATO member country sent teams, and even some non-NATO countries were represented. As you know, we marched 40km per day for four days, and we tried to drain the Netherlands of beer every night!
Did you then receive the walking medal?
@@rolfagten857 - My brother did, along with several other ‘marching’ medals.🏅
@@AtheistOrphan wear them proudley ! The Dutch NSB (collaborators party) had in the 1930's also walking medals.
Hey, you were in my city! So amazing to see that bridge that I drive across every day holds such a special place to you. You should have come in the summer, There's like popup cafe's underneath it where people can sit and relax, enjoy a band. or DJ. The Waalbrug as we call it is special to the people of Nijmegen. It is our symbol and driving across it from north to south feels like coming home. To the west, where the the brave men of the 82nd crossed the river in little boats, a new bridge has been built, exactly where they crossed, which is now called The Crossing in their honor. It has 48 lights, one for each soldier that died in the crossing and they go on every evening, one at a time. And people walk along the lights, the Sunset March, every evening.
Please tell the local government to clear up the graffiti on the bridge!
@@MarkFeltonProductions Good idea. I see the waters were much higher 70 years ago... 3:09
Thank you for honoring their memory and sacrifice.
@@MarkFeltonProductions Believe me, we want nothing more. The bridge was receiving major renovations 2 years ago. But it ended up costing too much, so the national government, which paid for it, decided to skip the paintjob and postpone it. Much to the chagrin of the locals, but there is little we can do. The paint that was used in the previous renovation is a little, shall we say, toxic? It requires specialist treatment to remove. Although if it were up to me I'd round up the local football hooligans. It's mostly their stupid graffiti that's on it.
@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 Charge the hooligans for the cost of clean up. That will quickly end the problem.
My favourite thing on UA-cam is WW2 "Then and Now" videos. Even better when they appear on Mark Felton's channel.
I took part in the Nijmegen marches back in 1969 and earned myself the Queen Juliana medal. It was a brilliant four-day march and the Dutch were fantastic. I had two beautiful Dutch girls holding my hands, encouraging me, for the last two miles. One of my most treasured memories.
WOW! I live in Nijmegen! I am 16 and have been interested in Nijmegen and history in general. I could tell you everything about my city and the history of my province, Gelderland! If you’d like to see photos and original maps of Nijmegen, you can ask me! Thank you for making this video!
@@Elatenl Meer geschiedenis dan je denkt makker
This is nothing to do with history but your hometown team of NEC Nijmegen are the only other football team in the world apart from the team I support (Glentoran FC) who play in red, green and black.
Yess ik ook! Gaaf om te zien!
He, een mede Nijmegenaar! 👏
💖
Love the music from A Bridge Too Far. Still one of the best war movie scores ever written.
agree
*a bridge too far theme intensifies*
I did the same drive about 6 years ago, also fulfilling a childhood dream. Thanks for the A Bridge Too Far music as well. One of the great soundtracks of all time. God bless!
In the September 1987 I rode my Suzuki 1100 motorcycle the whole length of the XXX Corps planned route. It gave a whole different appreciation of the scale of the plan and why it proved to be impossible in the final execution despite huge effort by all the troops involved. Brave men and much blood on a perfect plan that didn't have enough margin for the myriad of small things that always go wrong.
As the saying goes,
No plan survives first contact with the enemy.
No plan survived Montgomery's ineptitude!
Moltke was right, but there's also Clausewitz's saying: "In war, even the simplest things are difficult."
I always heard it "No plan survives first contact in tact"
Or the Mike Tyson corollary: “Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Great bike and great ride!
My grandfather was 82nd airborne 504th and a pathfinder for the whole war. He jumped into Graves as a pathfinder and joined up with a heavy weapons platoon stick before taking over the now Thompson bridge in Graves. What most people dont know if they base their knowledge of the battle in Nijmegen off the movie was a bit different than real life. The island in the Waal was not there in 44. My grandfather crossed in the 2nd and 3rd crossing of the river. He had to actually cross back and get another radio with the return trip as his first was shot. There was multiple crossings. Secondly the battle across the river was not fast like in the movie. It took them almost 7 hours of fighting to reach the north end of the bridge from the shore. Besides that my grandfather said the movie wasn't all of that off. They did have to use their rifles to paddle as they did not have enough paddles. There were snipers in the bridge itself. There was also another unit with the boats getting them across who would take them back for the next wave. I don't have the papers on me and can't say which exact unit. The battle was fierce and he really liked the movie.
A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting and staying in a boat hotel under the bridge. There's an amazing museum nearby in Groesbeck. Also the sunset bridge memorial crossing was amazing.
salutation !
Thank you for sharing.
As a history person living in Nijmegen i never expected there to be any interest in the city from outside. Cool to see people show interest from the outside. Also, if you ever visit again, i do some hardcore metal-detecting and digging around the area, since your grandfather was in the 82nd, i have some relics for you that you can have. :) mainly some 82nd parachute pieces and parachute coords. I also have some empty M1 clips i found near the bridge if you want them. I always try and find relics with names on them so i can return them to either family or the vet himself, but i havent bin lucky yet. Would be cool to return some related relics to you.
@@prank_name3126 goede dag, mede Nimwegenaar!
@@samuelclaessens7699 goede dag!
Some years ago I spoke to a veteran of the battle, he was in the Royal Artillery and had to set up AA batteries around the bridge, there were two really harrowing memories in particular that haunted him all his life and part of his suggested therapy was to talk about it more and to re-visit the bridge which he did with his family, he said to me it all seemed a bit silly and unnecessary to go all that way when he was fine about it, until he clapped eyes on that bridge again, the next thing he knew he was running full tilt on that motorway to get across and only his young son in law was quick enough to catch him and prevent him causing an accident, after that day he said he realised he had to start listening to people and taking advice on how to deal with his PTSD, He was a lovely genuine guy and I was honoured and humbled that he chose to share his experience's with me that day.
What an idiot that son in law. He should have left him enjoy the excitement of being back in that bridge.
It’s good to see the historical bridge that survived the operation market garden still stands today.
Never seen anything quite like this. Mark turned a four minute movie into a Blockbuster!
Dr, Felton, thank you for this episode it brought back memories for me, of a time when history was still taught in High School. Back in the 70s, I had a professor who was dedicated, a gift to his profession and students. thank you for your dedication to history and teaching the facts.
Nijmegen has been through so much throughout history, sadly alot of that has been destroyed or demolished but gladly the bridge still stands. I love sitting near the river with the bridge in the background
The only thing the Germans did right in Nijmegen is actually rebuilding the bridge after the Dutch blew it up in 1940!
I was there with my band back in the early 90's and we had a few hours of free time, and I was able to walk through the very area of the fighting. Walking in the same footsteps of great people is good enough for a humble man such as myself. We drove over the bridge the day after our show. It's a sacred place where heroes fought and died on both sides.
There were no Wermacht heroes.
This video is a little funny to me because unlike your normal videos with well-researched and thorough scripts, it didn't teach us a huge load of information. But this is one of my favorite videos you've done because it's such a historically significant place and you've presented it in a scale and grandeur that it deserves from that event. Great stuff as always!
I think this time Dr. Felton just let the images speak for themselves.
The Nijmegen bridge that was filmed in "a bridge to far " was filmed in Nijmegen at the original bridge . I was at the bridge the day the filmed was taken .
There was no normal traffic ,only the tanks,infantery etc. ( German first and British /American later )It was an exiting day !
"The bridge to far "in Arnhem was taken in Deventer. Reason was that in Deventer the municipality cooperated willingly and there where a lot of similair buildings around the bridge (although fake building were build as well.)
Dear Dr.Felton you did a good job .
Wow, the bridge hasn’t really changed at all! I love the historical work you do. Keep up the good work! Big fan of yours out of Detroit, MI USA
Except for the universal vandals who have to tag everything because there is nothing in their lives or in their heads.
@@389383 Do you know about all of the ancient Petroglyphs and pictographs all around the world? They are the same thing as what is presently called "tagging"
Don’t try to justify it goon.
Dr Felton, thanks for this video. I just watched A Bridge Too Far because of this video. Great movie.
If you visit Nijmegan, try and go to Grosbeek, there are areas where the gliders landed and the wood held by the Germans who pinned the allied forces down, My uncle was a para at Nijmegem and every evening the bridge lights illuminate one by one to remember the fallen, very emotional.
One of my favorite movies. A bridge too far!! I watched these movies as a kid over and over. What a thrill to actually be there. I would have walked the bridge and definitely gone to Arnhem! Thanks for showing us what the bridge looks like today.
Dont go to Arnhem
And Mark, did you notice the large concrete roadblocks at the side of the road at the north end of the bridge? They were found 15 years ago when there was a large reconstruction of the road (and even the river, there are now 2 streams instead of one). In this video you can see them at 2:30 when the Shermans drive around them.
After the war (or maybe already in the winter of 1944?) the engineers simply buried them on the spot were they were standing because they were much too heavy to lift. No explosives needed to get them out of the way!
When they were found they even had the white stripes and original painted wooden arrow pointing the direction for the traffic in good shape on them. Unfortunately they placed them beside the road in the open air and now the stripes are gone and the wooden parts are stolen by WW2 souvenir hunters. But they are still original remarkable remains at the spot.
Nice to see the bridge I live nearby featured by such a big channel! Did you know the other bridge near it (not the train but the "Oversteek") has 48 pairs of light on it that light up each night one by one, remembering each of the falling soldiers during this operation. Every night, veterans march this bridge in remembrance of this since 2013. Every night, for nearly 10 years, and it's still going on. Everyone is welcome to join as well, it's called the "Sunset March"
A few years back I was quite excited to find myself near Arnhem. Even though I know the Arnhem bridge was destroyed I thought it would have been interesting to see the site. As it turned out we stayed too long at the Son-in-laws parents in Deventer. As we were leaving I looked up at the Deventer Bridge and said, "Hey! This looks like..." Apparently they made the movie "A Bridge Too Far" using the Deventer Bridge as it resembled the Arnhem Bridge during the war. Or so I was told by my son-in-law.
The Arnhem bridge was built in 1936, demolished by the Dutch Army in 1940, rebuilt to the same design and opened in August 1944. The paint was still curing in September when it was set on fire by the British flame thrower attack duringthe operation. It was then bombed by the USAAF after Market Garden in October 1944, and finally replaced with the original design again in 1950. The bridge itself looks exactly like the original, but the surrounding buildings are modern office blocks replacing the original housing, so it was unsuitable for filming. Deventer has a bridge of the same design and the town looks like wartime Arnhem. It also had a convenient car park next to the bridge ramp, so they constructed fake houses on that area which they could destroy as the battle progresses through the film.
Interresting movie fact: The Arnhem part of the movie A bridge too far wasn't shot at the Arnhem bridge. When they went scouting for locations for the movie, they found that there was nothing left from the old situation surrounding the bridge so they filmed that part at a very similar bridge in Deventer, 35km from Arnhem at the Wilhelmina bridge. They even rebuilt houses near the bridge specifically for the movie.
Visited here in 2019, just to see the bridge! It is astounding what the area had been through!
Btw nijmegen is netherlands oldest city!
In a word; “FANTASTIC” well done Mark!
I saw “A Bridge Too Far” in the theater when it was released…still love that movie
I was stationed in West Germany 83-85. far too young to have appreciated the sites I could have seen.
Thank you, again, for the adventures in world history.
It’s a mother, loving, beautiful bridge! Thank you Professor for this wonderful video!
Thanks Dr. Felton for your taking us on trips. Great stuff!
I am certainly no world traveler, but I was forced to take a business trip to the Netherlands about 20 years ago. I had to stay in Nijmegen during this time. I visited this bridge not really knowing its history (to my great shame). I found the Dutch people to be extremely welcoming to Americans and with a bit of probing found that they loved the Brits even more. And most of the Dutch speak English better than about 90% of us Americans.
Most of the world speaks English better than 90% of Americans. Were you ‘forced’ to go to the Netherlands at gunpoint?
The Dutch civilians who helped us 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 were very brave. We should not forget them
The soundtrack was the perfect touch! What a neat drive!!
Had the pleasure of walking across this bridge back in July during this year’s 4Daagse march as part of one of this year’s USMIL detachments. Whole bunch of fun, makes the Netherlands my favorite country in the world (After America, or course)
I was attending the 4Daagse march this year and because of day 1 cancellation (39 C heat), none of the marchers could go over the Nijmegen bridge. Did get to go over Grave bridge on day 4.
@@marks_sparks1 It might have been, I was so tired by day 4 (3) that I don’t remember which bridges I went over.
@@Michael-yu2yk that's understandable regards tireness. The last 10 km to Charlotte Field on day 4 - I was literally put 1 foot forward with the only amazing crowd just willing me on. Its an experience. Have to do the full 4 days march in 2023.
My dad was in the 4th Armored Division band 1957-59 and on the anniversary of this battle they played at the ceremony in Nijmegen. Dad’s pics of the event are outstanding. Thanks!
How cool! It always feels so great to actually visit places where great events of history occurred. Thanks for this!
In 1979, while serving as Medical support for the US and NATO troops marching in the yearly 100 km, 4 day march, we crossed that bridge numerous times. Being a student of history, even at the young age of 18, I had goosebumps crossing it. Later, after the march was over, we had a few beers under the bridge with a few locals. Your video brought back some awesome memories!
Mark this is one of your best!...fantastic!... thanks so much for sharing!!
Fantastic film score by the composer John Addison, who was actually in XXX Corps during "Market Garden"!
goed om mijn historische stad Nijmegen te zien.
It's good to see my historical home town, Nijmegen.
The fact that you used the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies for context makes a good video....even better.
A Bridge Too Far......WOW......Neat Bucket List check- off !
Absolutely, the Nijmegen bridge is quite spectacular. In the map at 0:34, note the town of Kleve just over the border in Germany. This is the town from which 'Anne of Cleves', queen of England for six months in 1540 and one of the six wives of Henry VIII, derived here original title. I was astounded by this. The casual traveller can get a local bus from Nijmegen to Kleve. So, just for a few Euros (ok, I used Guilders when I was last in Nijmegen), the casual traveller can pass through eras of history. That is what is great about being in Europe.
You're very generous with your knowledge, thank you Sir!
A remarkable work, thanks Mark. Great narrative. Great editing. I like how you blended the personal (childhood dream) with the historical. Wished that school history lessons had been as captivating. Greetings from Australia.
Greatings from Nijmegen. Love your clips!
3-504th PIR, 82nd Abn Div
MAJ Julian Cook is still revered today. If you can ever find your way into the HQ of the 1st Bde/504th PIR (the "Devils in Baggy Pants") on Ardennes Street in Fort Bragg, there are exhibits about him there today, and his story is known by most of the regiment's paratroopers.
Thanks Mark, great video.
Thank you Dr Felton! This was an inspiring and emotional video to watch. I didn't realize the same bridge seized so heroically and at such great cost by a combined force from each of our nations was still standing to this day.
I've only been abroad once and this is where I went , always been fascinated by operation Market Garden.
All because of watching the film as a kid.
It's an area well worth visiting.
Another one of your best episodes Dr. Felton! Beautifully done! Thank you!
I used to bike across this piece of history daily for years, I miss Nijmegen sometimes
I cross that bridge about 10 times per year. Whenever you get back here you should go see the John S. Thompson bridge in Grave. In fact a part of Market Garden that did not get a lot of attention but the only part of MG that went very well. Thanks for your video.
I love the “then and now” pictures and films. Give us some more if you can. Nice job, Mark!
Thanks for creating this video and sharing it, Mark! It brings back memories. As a young enlisted Soldier and a member of the U.S. Third Armored Division Band, I was in Nijmegen during the summers of 1976 and 1977, as we supported the troops participating in the famous Nijmegen Marches. This was before I understood the bridge’s historical significance, and before they filmed the movie on location there. I do remember the iconic bridge, nevertheless. I remember watching the movie in the theatre back home after I left active duty when the film was released in 1977, and thinking “I was there!”
There is a Dutch Historian who wrote a book claiming that Nijmegen Bridge is what caused Arnhem to be "A Bridge Too Far". He claims the inability of the 82nd to take the bridge immediately lost vital time which delayed 30 Corps in getting to Arnhem Bridge.
I think you're thinking of Dutch researcher RG Poulussen's book, Lost At Nijmegen (2011), which examined the communications failure between James Gavin (82nd Airborne Division) and Roy Lindquist (508th Parachute Infantry Regiment), which had the mission to take the Nijmegen bridge on the first day of the operation and fatally compromised the operation, contrary to the conventional narrative drawn from Cornelius Ryan's original research for A Bridge Too Far (1974) that failed to uncover this story.
Other books which have gone into greater depth:
Retake Arnhem Bridge - An Illustrated History of Kampfgruppe Knaust, Bob Gerritsen and Scott Revell (2010)
Put Us Down In Hell - A Combat History of the 508th PIR in WW2, Phil Nordyke (2012)
September Hope - The American Side of a Bridge Too Far, John C McManus (2012)
The 508th Connection, chapter 6 - Nijmegen Bridge, Zig Boroughs (2013)
Arnhem 1944: An Epic Battle Revisited vols 1 and 2, Christer Bergström (2019, 2020)
@@davemac1197 Thanks for the information, much appreciated!
How awesome is that, Mark??? Thanks for sharing this milestone with us, I don't think I'll ever get to cross that bridge.
Im from Nijmegen as well! Right now I pass one of the bunkers almost everyday. Glad that you are making a video about this!
I first seen "A bridge too far" when I was thirteen and hundred times since. I am 56. Love your channel Mark.
A great film. I have an autographed photo of Sean Connery in British officers uniform apparently made out to a gal connected with the film.
The walking in of the artillery barrage toward the viewer was compelling.
Thank you, Professor Felton, for the historical video comparisons then and now..........
Him driving on the bridge with the music from the movie overlayed brought a smile to my face.
My grandfather fought, and sadly died at Nijmegan Bridge. He was with the Hampshire regiment, and is buried at Oosterbeek cemetery. Thank you for the video.
You have made me remember about the wonderful movie "A bridge too far"... Tonight I'm gonna watch it... Thanks Mark... it's amazing video
Thanks for the look at this iconic piece of history.
Around 12 Years ago I enjoyed a little Holiday in Holland, and my Hosts took me to Arnhem. We drove across the Bridge and I wish I knew then what I know now!
Thank you very much, Dr. Feldman.
🇿🇦
Your name is Dutch/ South African indeed. When you put "Ik" in front of it it says: ik ben de wet ( i am the law).
Fun fact: 'A Bridge Too Far' was filmed at Deventer, since the immediate surroundings and buildings around Nijmegen Bridge had changed too much since WW2. Deventer had a similar bridge and the city still resembled a WW2 city.
Wasn’t that used instead of the bridge in Arnhem?
As you can see in this video the area around the bridge of Nijmegen is still as empty as in the war
Its not true, the film was also filmed in Nijmegen. My dad had guys from the film crew back at home and i live in Nijmegen
That was instead of Arnhem.
The bridge in Deventer stood model voor the Arnhem Bridge, now better know as the John Frost Bridge.
another plus about the Deventer bridge is that it had houses (roofs) close to the ramp of the bridge ..exactly as required for the original Arnhem bridge...
I was born and raised in this beautiful city, and i still live and work here. It still gives me a warm welcome when i come back from a roadtrip, thats what makes our bridge a special bridge. 😇
Using the fantastic music score from A Bridge Too Far was an especially nice touch.
Another great job Mark. Thank you. It is good that you do videos like this. The world needs reminded of history and things that have happened. Only by looking back at history can we as humans keep from repeating the same mistakes again.
Brilliant! I was obsessed with the film and the story as a child. Thanks for this.
What an awesome video
As someone living within 5min of this bridge and crossing it multiple times a week (by bicycle of course) this video was very interesting to watch. Thanks Dr. Felton!
Thank you, Dr. Felton. This was wonderful.
Nice video about a historic bridge! Also a little glimpse of Dr. Felton's inner child leaked through his subdued British demeanor. There was such excitement to storm the bridge himself!
I appreciate your inclusion of historical photos and videos in your films..
Thank you Sir!
Fantastic job documenting this hallowed crossing, then, and now! The Dutch also have much to proud of as it really is o lovely place. Lovely people. We should never forget these men and their valiant effort to free the world of Tyrany. Thank you Again for sharing!
Wonderful way to knock it off your bucket list. Hope you have a good festive season and thank you for all you research posted here for us to enjoy. Cheers and stay safe.
OUT STANDING!!!. You hit it out of the ballpark again Mark.
Sir ,in the 70s I went under this bridge while working on barges, it's only in recent years I understood it's history thanks to you.
Good to see you had decent weather. As a non-local, I really hate crossing that thing when it's dark, rainy and busy.
Although it's probably less frustrating when you're used to it.
It was absolutely freezing!
We sure love your history lessons here in America Mr Mark you not only tell the story you many times take us on location of the actual events well done
I visited about 3 years ago and it’s very moving to see the bridge as it would have been so long ago. So many were lost. It’s also worth visiting the bridge museum nearby and the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek (Hartenstein) that was used by Major General Urquhart as his HQ, along with various Airborne Divisions. It featured in the film too and is easily recognised. Highly recommended tour for anyone interested in Market Garden.
The Airborne Museum had some great relics - I particularly enjoyed seeing Johnny Frost's hunting horn.
@@MarkFeltonProductions Following his death and following this "A Bridge too Far" topic, can you make an episode about ex-SS member and German actor Hardy Krüger?
Thanks Dr. Mark Felton, love your video's! keep up the good work, or as they say in the Netherlands: ''Dankjewel'' ga zo door!
Did anyone else ever play the old Avalon Hill Wargame "Storm over Arnheim" back in the day? Also, I have to add, the theme song from "A bridge too far is one of the greatest WWII movie themes of all time! (The movie is phenomenal as well!) Excellent video as always Mark!
I remember seeing the movie in the theater ,it was good to see the actual bridge , thank you.
To be that first guy to charge across the bridge, knowing what stiff resistance awaits him, is truly brave.
Ordinary people who do extraordinary things is a true essence of heroism.
So cool to see you cover my hometown! Ive lived here all my life and now study at the city's university. Thanks for the content!
Merry Christmas Mark, I grew up in Nijmegen. I will forward this video to my family.
thank you Dr felton i used to ride over this bridge almost everyday
The book of Market Garden from the German perspective 'It Never Snows in September' makes some interesting observations: first, that the British paratroopers were correct to land outside of Arnhem and NOT on the bridge, and the only criticism the Germans had was that the South end of the Bridge should have been captured too; but the real problem with Market Garden was far too few infantry on the road through Nijmegen supporting XXX Corps, which meant that small German foot patrols armed with Panzerfausts could simply knock out a few British vehicles and block the road. Two parachute divisions of infantry was simply spread too thinly over sixty miles.
That is a fair assessment.
Thanks for yet another great video. I guess it's time to dig out my copy of a bridge to far and settle in for the afternoon!
Thank you Sir for the Video
My grandfather was here for Market Garden. He shared a little bit but I always wanted to learn more from him. Sadly he passed away this year
My condolences for your loss.
@@MarkFeltonProductions thank you Mark
Have marched over Nijmegen bridge a few times. Good memories.
Great stuff Mark! I truly loved the film and seeing you drive the route was very entertaining.
Bob
England
In the movie: “a bridge too far” you clearly see the skyline of Nijmegen. This skyline is absolutely incorrect, this is because Nijmegen was bombed by ‘mistake’ in February of 1944, this took the lives of almost 800 people and destroyed 22.000 homes. All churches and building in the center were destroyed except the ‘molenstraat Church’ and a few buildings on the lower side of the old town. After the war a few of the most important structures were restored to their former glory but the old Nijmegen skyline was for ever changed.
In the film they recreated a few of the pre war features of the city, including buildings that were never rebuilt, so they deliberately created the skyline even though it had been destroyed several months earlier.
Interesting as always Dr Felton, thank you. Best wishes for the holidays and continued health and production in 2023. I visited the Market Garden Cemetery at Oosterbeek years ago, what a heart wrenching experience. Cheers from Canada.
Hi Mark, although I’m a follower of your channel, I must have missed this video until now. Very nice you visited my hometown. Not a day is going by that we are thinking of WWII since the heart of Nijmegen was bombed in ‘44.
Thank you for making all these very important videos.
Best of luck.
Many thanks Mark for this great video.Lovely footage and the use of the great soundtrack of "A bridge to far".