THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY

light followed by further interminabledelays around the Pannerden ferry sites.After crossing there were more tiringmarches on exposed dyke roads, frequentlyharassed by 'Jabos' as daylight approached.Exhausted, they were required to changedirection again, fan out, and advance inattack formation upon new objectives overboggy ground. Having clambered acrosswater-filled ditches toward an enemywhose location was unknown, the order tostop and dig in was a relief. If the situationstabilised sufficiently, they might engendersome form of front routine - and get somesleep.Lance-Corporal Karl-Heinz Kracht'spanzer Mark III, part of the KampfgruppeKnaust', clattered southwards towardsElst. Nobody knew what lay ahead; theywere watchful, nervous and expectant. TheArnhem experience had left them jittery.

'There was only one citizen left inRijnwik a suburb north-east of theArnhem bridge. He fired his pistolfrom the house, behind us, at theGrenadiers.'

The response was immediate.

'He was killed by a sub-machine gunburst. It was sheer nonsense!Otherwise, all the buildings and thebutcher's shop were empty.'

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two of our tanks and quite a numberof our grenadiers!'

This skirmish encapsulates the situation asit was occurring all along the irregular linebeing established in the Betuwe during 21September. Kracht continued:

'Confusion reigned, with friend andfoe not only in front, but also on theflanks and in the rear. A front line wasnot discernible, and I believe thatsome people fired on their owntroops. Through a miracle our vehicleescaped destruction in the melee.Along with two other tanks, we weresent to Zeddam for refitting withreserves.'

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Suddenly, contact was made with the leadingelements of 1st Guards Armoured Division,whom Kracht assumed to be Americans:

'The encounter we had with theAmericans and Shermans on a railwayembankment in Elst was quitecharacteristic in a way. Some German-speaking joker shouted "Don't shoot,we're Germans" as the first tanksappeared. And then they cut loosewith everything they had. This cost us

The Germans were beginning to feel thatthe front in the south was at last beginningto stabilise. But at 1700 hours the roar ofaeroplanes could be distinguishedapproaching from the south - louder andlouder. Squadrons of Spitfires appeared outof the clouds. Circling German positions inthe Driel area they swept down and engagedidentified emplacements with a murderousstrafing fire. Machine gun fire was returned,and flak artillery began to bark out, attempt-ing to register on these new targets. A newtumultuous roar of aircraft, stronger thanbefore, pervaded the scene. Dakotas nowfollowed up behind the Spitfires. The roarchanged pitch as aircraft reduced speed,flying low. Below the first Dakota one para-chute, then another, and then a third openedup - the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade wasjumping. As far as the Germans were con-cerned this scene, repeated again and againuntil countless black shapes filled the sky,was a harbinger of doom. It was morereinforcements. Fighting paused momen-tarily in Oosterbeek as every gun barrelswung to meet the new threat of anotherairborne attack.

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