Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity
Part of Operation Plunder
C-47 transport aircraft drop hundreds of paratroopers as part of Operation Varsity.
Date 24 March 1945 Location Wesel, Germany Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United States  Canada	Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
Bernard Montgomery Eric Bols Matthew Ridgway William Miley	Günther Blumentritt
Units involved
6th Airborne Division 17th Airborne Division	7th Parachute Division 84th Infantry Division
Strength
16,870	8,000 (est.)
Casualties and losses
2,378–2,700 casualties 72 aircraft	Unknown total casualties 3,500 captured

Operation Varsity (24 March 1945) was a successful airborne forces operation launched by Allied troops that took place toward the end of World War II. Involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location.

Varsity was part of Operation Plunder, the Anglo-American-Canadian assault under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery to cross the northern Rhine River and from there enter Northern Germany. Varsity was meant to help the surface river assault troops secure a foothold across the Rhine River in Western Germany by landing two airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the village of Hamminkeln and the town of Wesel.

The plans called for the dropping of two divisions from U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps, under Major General Matthew B. Ridgway to capture key territory and to generally disrupt German defenses to aid the advance of Allied ground forces. The British 6th Airborne Division was ordered to capture the villages of Schnappenberg and Hamminkeln, clear part of the Diersfordter Wald (Diersfordt Forest) of German forces, and secure three bridges over the River Issel. The U.S. 17th Airborne Division was to capture the village of Diersfordt and clear the rest of the Diersfordter Wald of any remaining German forces. The two divisions would hold the territory they had captured until relieved by advancing units of 21st Army Group, and then join in the general advance into northern Germany.

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