After several days on the Bridge and surrounding areas making the 10th SS Division move miles down the Rhine to ferry troops and equipment across to counter the attacks at Njmegan the germans decided to take the direct route and systematically destroy the entrenched positions of Frosts (That the commander on the bridge Andy!!) on the 19th september three Panzer IV's began, with assistance from artillery, to attempt to destroy the buildings one by one. Out of range from the brit 6ILB's the piat team went hunting for them and, knocked one out and, got the remaining to withdraw. The Tigers were next and, caused severe destruction to the positions of the Para's.
The Para's were removed from buildings being hit by officers and sheltered elsewhere when possible or, in cellers and, returned to some when the shelling stopped and the fires had died. some positions were so hot the soles of the boots melted as they fought the german attempts to dislodge them.
So, I thought I would build the aftermath of this shelling and damage and, show a little scene where the Para's are dug in taking casualties but, giving it as good as they can. Scratch built the building from polystyrene tiles covered in brick compound which, is real brick powder you mix with water to create the walls and covered them in white plaster. cardboard and balsa made the floors and staircase. Finished of with some of the troops from K&C's arnhem range.
Its just things like this and, when they asked for volunteers to go out at night to bring back german weapons etc to keep fighting!! that make the battle iconic in the annals of WWII. few battles have all the elements that capture the imagination and leave you stunned at the dogged resistance as does the para's defence at Arnhem.
Hope you enjoy the shots
Mitch
