Paratroopers Commemorate 80th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden

Hundreds of NATO soldiers reenact historic WWII jumps in the Netherlands to honor the sacrifices of Allied troops.

• 700 paratroopers from eight NATO nations, including the US, UK, and Germany, participated in commemorative jumps over Ginkel Heath.
• The event marks the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, a daring but ultimately unsuccessful WWII mission aimed at hastening the end of the war.
• Operation Market Garden involved nearly 35,000 paratroopers and aimed to capture key bridges in the Netherlands, but failed to secure the crucial bridge at Arnhem.
• The commemorations included a wreath-laying ceremony attended by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and 12 surviving WWII veterans.
• Princess Anne and other dignitaries attended memorial services at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, honoring the more than 11,500 Allied troops who died during the operation.

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