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Paratroopers in the Frankrijkstraat. September 1944, the 101st Airborne division is entering Eindhoven. Third battalion of the 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment met some tough opposition from two German 88mm canons. One located on the Woenselsestraat and one located on the Kloosterdreef. When the canons were destroyed by the paratroopers, the route to the Dommel bridges would be clear. Mister van Heeswijk, who lived in the Frankrijkstraat, was just a teenager when he saw the liberators. Mister van Heeswijk was lucky to possess a camera and took a couple of pictures of the liberators that made him and so many others free again.
The first paratrooper mister van Heeswijk met on the street.
Miss Janssen, then mister van Heeswijk’s girlfriend, now his wife, gives a peach to one of the American paratroopers.
After a while, mister van Heeswijk’s mother is brave enough to leave the air-raid shelter.
A British armored car links up with the Americans.
Dutch civilians are helping the paratroopers by hauling their equipment in their carts.
The paratroopers are using anything to carry their heavy weapons to the bridges.
Later that day, tanks of British XXX-corps are moving towards the Son bridge. Final destination: Arnhem!
A British tank stops in the Frankrijkstraat for a break.
The German 88mm canon, that was positioned in the Woenselsestraat, was towed towards the Hamsterstraat. Photographs: Mister P. van Heeswijk via Tom Peeters |
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