A Drop Too Many

As part of Operation Market Garden, the Allies' September 1944 attempt to secure crossings over the Rhine River in the Netherlands, the British 2nd Parachute Regiment, commanded by John Frost, landed outside Arnhem with orders to seize bridges inside the city. The paratroopers did so but were soon cut off from other Allied units. Grossly outnumbered, Frost and his men fought off German armored and infantry assaults for three days and four nights. Finally forced to surrender, Frost spent the remainder of the war in German captivity.