In September 1944 Croydon's twin town of Arnhem became the focus of the Allied forces hopes to end the Second World War. Dan Menhinnitt looks back at Operation Market Garden, the campaign which, if successful, would have changed not just the course of the Second World War but the entire shape of post-war Europe.

On September 17, 1944 the Allies hoped that daring plan Operation Market Garden would bring the Second World War to a swift end.

The Allied commanders hoped to cross into Germany through the Dutch city of Arnhem, now Croydon's twin town, allowing them to reach Berlin before the Russian army.

Montgomery, the commander of British forces in Europe, planned for 30,000 British and American airborne troops to be flown behind enemy lines to capture the eight bridges that spanned the German and Dutch border. At the same time British tanks and infantry were moved from the Allied frontline to the key bridge relieving the airborne troops and cross the intact bridges.

But there were too few aircraft to send all the troops at once meaning they would instead have to be dropped over three days and anti-aircraft defences near Arnhem meant troops were dropped seven miles away losing the element of surprise.

By September 18 Allied troops had fought their way to the Nijmegan bridge, the north end of which was already in British hands.

The remaining troops met massive resistance. When Americans attempted to capture the German end across the river Waal, half of the company was killed or wounded in the crossing. The survivors successfully stormed the Nijmegan bridge.

By that time however it was too late for the British parachute battalion at the north end of the bridge, the Germans had moved the tanks into the town and fighting left the British battalion with no food and little ammunition forcing the Allied troops to abandon their position and fight their way out.

The British and American troops were kept apart by German artillery forcing the commanders to evacuate the British survivors. The para-chute division had to leave behind almost 1,500 dead, and more than 6,500 prisoners.

Operation Market Garden had failed and it would be another four months before the Allies could cross the Rhine.