Hundreds of parachutists jump to mark WWII operation

Hundreds of parachutists on Sept 21 dropped down on a heath near the Dutch town of Ede, following in the footsteps of 2,000 Allied soldiers 80 years ago.

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Involving British, Polish and American soldiers, the jump marked the penultimate day of the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, with Dutch King Willem-Alexander attending a commemoration ceremony.

Ultimately ending in failure, the infamous operation saw the loss of almost 15,000 Allied soldiers, while 6,600 others were captured in the ill-fated plan in September 1944.

Allied commanders had hoped the operation would give them a quick way of ending the war in Europe, opening up an invasion route to Berlin.

Instead, thousands of parachutists were repelled by strong German opposition in the Dutch city of Arnhem and surrounding towns including Ede, which were almost totally gutted in the fighting.

“Today, we celebrate our collective freedom and remember the enormous... effort to achieve it,” Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Breukelmans told thousands of onlookers, including the Dutch king, military dignitaries and a handful of surviving World War II veterans.