Operation Varsity

March 24, 1945 · Wesel

Result Allied victory

British and American airborne divisions landed east of the Rhine to support Allied crossings. It was the largest airborne operation carried out in one day.

On the map Contemporaries

United States

Nazi Germany

United States

United Kingdom

Canada

Germany

Matthew Ridgway military commander

Eric Bols military commander

William M. Miley military commander

Strength and losses

Strength: 16,870
Casualties: 2,378–2,700
Aircraft lost: 72

Units

First Allied Airborne Army XVIII Airborne Corps 17th Airborne Division 6th Airborne Division 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion 11th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) Glider Pilot Regiment 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion 9th (Eastern and Home Counties) Parachute Battalion

7th Parachute Division 84th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)