LZ 'P' Scenes and Photos, Operation Varsity

SH,

I'm lazy if it is not linked I won't look. Even when linked most people won't follow through. But it is great you are attempting to specify location. One way to make location interesting is to tell a story. For example Christie and Oakes arrival and before their jourmey into Hamminkeln and beyond.

https://icedrive.net/s/6uxCt1kB3iYgxagvxDzihYDA9kGC

The Hamminkeln sign:

Hamminkeln Sign - Ulster Rifleman

Regards ...

 

That's a good point, I might go back and link at least the DZ P ones,

I like the style and depth the PDF's go into, maybe something to aim for once I find a few more, there is definitely a narrative to Christie's journey through the village. from the PDF does this mean he landed west of the village?

 

Yes, below the Iwingshof Farm.

Another good thread for locations:

Varsity - crash site Horsa BF 473?

Regards ...

 

Hi,

As for General Bols all shots of him by Christie I believe were taken at Kopenhof.

A view west on Bislicher towards Kopenhof by Christie on the 25th. Robert Capa came up through field to right on March 24th.



Regards ...

 

Hi all,

What about 1. as the Windmill and 2. as the Train Station as seen in distance of marked attached photo. A very long shot I know but a possibility to consider.



Regards ...

 

Eh,

A couple of what are thought to be Robert Capa photos. Were they taken in the British zone?



Regards ...

 

The first of the photos seems to have appeared in a magazine (page 3 top right) https://www.slightly-out-of-focus.com/product-page/robert-capa-the-last-round-life-1945

I wonder if its the same orchard as this: AIRBORNE FORCES LEAP THE RHINE THE LINK-UP IS COMPLETE , The hedge in the background looks similar, and AIRBORNE FORCES LEAP THE RHINE THE LINK-UP IS COMPLETE which would have been taken near by shows similar protection around the trunks. If so 51.7248, 6.5616 is where I thought the 2 IWM ones were. Do you recon Capa's was there? seems quite far from the American area although we know he was around CN 155 which is on DZ P not too far away.

 

I thought perhaps taken at 39 Bislicher Str. which can be seen in the background of this Christie photo from March 25th - don't know for sure. Much changed today, of course.



Regards ...

 

These were - according to the local historian Johann Nitrowski - very likely taken here: Google Maps

 

That is confirmed - again by the late Johann Nitrowski.

 

Very interesting. Thanks so much alberk. Close but no cigar for me ...

Regards ..

 

I think this might be the rough location for many possibly all all of the other Capa Photographs from the Linked Article, the telegraph pole and HV cables crop up in several others as does the burning farm. https://www.slightly-out-of-focus.com/product-page/robert-capa-the-last-round-life-1945

Interestingly page 5 top right shows a fairly undamaged Hamilcar from Behind, which might be the one opposite the farm complex, that landed near 51.7263, 6.5709

 

Yes Hamilcar CN 260 as described in post 76. From there he follows the powerline down to the American zones photographing at various locations as he goes.

Regards ...

 

Do you know if there are any more of those transformer buildings in that area?

I've just come across these photographs (whilst looking for more aerial photos of the area we thought the horse photo may have been taken in) Rare Aerial Photo of Gliders Taken After Operation Varsity, March 1945 they seem to show a similar looking building to the transformer station inline with the some pylons.

Separate note: As Cee suggested I have also added links and a brief narrative (based on a few assumptions) to the Sgt Christie photographs list from last week (for future readers these previously did not link to the IWM numbered photographs making it difficult to follow in my post that starts "Hi All, Slightly off topic").

 

That is one of the same type of buildings yes. Not sure of that location, but most likely south east of Hamminkeln. Looks like the River Issel with small bridge in view.

 

i think this is the location.

Alex

 

Hi All,

Another Possible that I thought I would through into the mix, from the 2nd video at 4:31-4:32 min in there are some Parachutists landing by what looks like a large Hay Stack.
OPERATION VARSITY : Airborne Invasion East of the Rhine, March 24th 1945 [Main Title] | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)

The Video Description states, "Footage of troops on the ground is however taken from the earlier operation at Arnhem, Operation Market Garden", so it may well be in Arnham instead, however, I think it is possible it is the hay stack near CN155 as seen seen near the centre of this picture: Operation VARSITY | The Army Flying Museum

Also worth noting from the picture (2nd link), there is a mast of some kind in the bottom right. Based on the shadow of this mast and its orientation relative to the railway which is approximately parallel to the bottom of the picture, this suggests the aerial was taken in the evening ~17:00 (UTC+1).

Regards
SH

 

Hi,

Yes it's Arnhem footage. I'm not aware of a haystack near CN155. As for aerial below no idea of location depicted.



Regards ...

 

Haystack definitely Arnhem. I’m not a farmer but not sure you’d see a haystack in March!

 

I'm fairly confident in the aerials location based on: the listed date (March) and lining up the field boundary's (please see the plan below). The 3 gliders positions and pattern of the white parachutes to the left of what I believe to be CN 155 also matches, and I've attached a composite aerial Cee's mark up from the PDF to show this.

Totally agree Alex! now you've said it! it would be really weird so the footage is unlikely to be March.

Assuming I'm right about the photos position in the plan below, this does however, beg the question of what is the object in the middle of the Mar 25th oblique Aerial photo is? I have checked the PDF and can't see it in the background of any other photographs near that area?



Best Regards,
SH