A Bridge Too Far

In the early morning hours of September 4, 1944, the villagers of Driel, a small Dutch community along the Lower Rhine, awakened to distant, unsettling sounds. Though initially unclear, the persistent noise soon revealed itself as the rumble of German military convoys moving along nearby roads. Confusion and speculation spread among the residents, with some suspecting reinforcements while others wondered if the Germans were retreating. Due to wartime curfews, few could investigate firsthand. However, a phone call from Cora Baltussen, a young Dutch woman, to friends in Arnhem confirmed the astonishing truth: The Germans appeared to be fleeing. Driel’s three-man garrison had vanished, and the town was momentarily without Nazi control. While villagers believed the war might now bypass them, Ryan foreshadows that Driel’s trials were only beginning.

As the remnants of Hitler’s forces retreated through South Holland, Dutch civilians watched in disbelief and celebration. The German withdrawal reached chaotic proportions by September 5—later called Dolle Dinsdag (“Mad Tuesday”)—as soldiers, Nazi officials, and collaborators fled in disorganized convoys, often looting as they went. Dutch resistance groups prepared for liberation, spurred on by optimistic broadcasts from Allied and royal figures. Rumors of Allied advances stoked public euphoria, and Dutch flags, songs, and celebrations erupted across the country.