PLANES TOWING GLIDERS take off for the invasion of the Netherlands, 17 September 1944. The First Allied Airborne Army launched its attack to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in the Arnhem area. Complete surprise was achieved and the drops and glider landings were effective and in most cases were made in the prescribed areas. During the following ten days the fighting was severe with repeated German counterattacks. However, the railroad bridge across the Waal River in the Nijmegen area was captured on 20 September and remained in Allied hands. By the end of September the corridor was widened somewhat and the operation was considered a success even though the Allies were forced to evacuate most of the attacking troops after numerous casualties were suffered.] [Illustration: THE NETHERLANDS AND GERMANY PARATROOPERS ADVANCING UNDER ENEMY FIRE in the Arnhem area (top). A captured German self-propelled assault gun (Sturmgeschuetz 7.5-cm. Stu. K. 40) (bottom). During the entire operation in the Netherlands which lasted for thirty days, from 17 September to 16 October 1944, over 5,500 planes and 2,500 gliders transported 34,000 men, and over 1,900 vehicles, 500 artillery pieces, and 5,000 tons of supplies. The airborne army suffered more than 13,000 casualties in killed, wounded, or missing.] [Illustration] [Illustration: GERMANY INFANTRYMEN FOLLOWING A TANK during the advance north of Aachen (top). Infantrymen riding on an M4 medium tank-dozer through the West Wall, while others follow on foot (bottom). The last two weeks in September were spent by the First Army in probing the enemy’s defenses along the frontier. On 2 October an attack was launched across the German border about eight miles north of Aachen. Progress during the next two weeks was slow as troops fought their way through six miles of West Wall, or “Siegfried Line,” fortifications.] [Illustration] [Illustration: GERMANY A 57-MM. ANTITANK GUN M1 being unlimbered from a half-track during the street fighting in Aachen (top). A Browning .30-caliber machine gun M1919A4 being fired at the enemy in Aachen (bottom). The German troops in Aachen refused a surrender ultimatum on 11 October 1944, and during the next three days the city was subjected to intense aerial bombardment and artillery fire. Infantrymen entered the city on 13 October and after fierce house-to-house fighting almost completely occupied Aachen by 20 October. The following day the garrison surrendered, making Aachen the first German city to fall to the Allies. The First U. S. Army then began preparations for a drive to the Rhine as soon as supplies and reinforcements should become available.] [Illustration] [Illustration: GERMANY WEST RAILROAD YARDS LOUSBERG