The Waal Bridge
During the Roman Empire, Nijmegen was part of the Limes, the border between the Roman Empire and the various so-called Germanic areas. In Nijmegen (Noviomagum) was from 71 untill 104 AD the 10th legion of the Romans encamped. In the Middle Ages, Charlemagne is said to have built around the year 770 een 'palace'’ in Noviomagus aan de Vahalem, that protected the access roads to the crosswalks on site. That is why the city is sometimes referred to as the imperial city. However, it is controversial Charles the Great in Nijmegen did. Not until 1936 became the 600 meter long road bridge (including elevated ramps) built, at the same time as the Rhine bridge in Arnhem. Both bridges were 1940 blown up by the Dutch army and rebuilt in the war. A thousand meters downstream is a railway bridge over the Waal. The old town that between the road- and railway bridges lay, was a typical maze of streets. When approaching the Waalbrug, the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division quickly got into fierce street fighting..

The first attack on the Waalbrug
On 17 september 1944 the first attempt to clear the two bridges was made by units of the US 82nd Airborne Division, who had landed in the nearby village of Groesbeek. The American paratroopers managed to reach the Waalbrug 400 meters to approach, but were beaten back by German troops. The next day the attack was launched again, but this attack was also repulsed by the Germans. On 19 september 1944 the ground forces of the British 30th Army Corps made contact with the airborne troops at Grave. A combined attack on the bridges was launched, now with support from tanks of the British Guards Armored Division. But again the Allied attack was repulsed just before the bridges.

It was clear that the bridges could not be stormed. A plan was made to attack the bridges from both sides at the same time. That meant that troops had to cross the river by boat. On 20 september 1944 the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division crossed the Waal under murderous fire. They managed to establish a bridgehead on the northern bank of the Waal and from this small foothold they were eventually able to storm and capture the Waal Bridge in Nijmegen.. Captain Moffat Burriss, commandant van Company I, remembers: ‘At sunset we were under the massive Nijmegen bridge. The dike road ran under the north side of the bridge, it was supported by huge concrete columns. It started to get dark. When we looked at the south side of the bridge, we saw silhouettes of tanks heading our way. While we waited with grenades in our hands, two tanks passed a few meters in front of us. They were British. When the third arrived, we came out and shouted: “Hey!, we are americans!the tank commander stuck out his head. I grabbed him around his neck. "You are the most beautiful thing I've seen in months."

Praktische informatie
During the Battlefield Tour we visit a number of places that remind us of these fierce battles around the Waalbrug. During this walk from 5 km an expert guide explains the events in September 1944 and shows you the traces of these battles that 78 jaar nog steeds te zien zijn. The tour starts and ends at the Valkhof in Nijmegen. After your registration you will receive the practical information from us.

The Battlefield tour is led by Erik Jellema, guide at Vrienden van het Airborne Museum

Hierbij is inbegrepen:

• Coffee / tea at the start of the tour at the Waalbrug
• The entire morning is accompanied by an expert guide