 Operation Market Garden was an airborne assault by three divisions in the Netherlands in September 1944 , including the 1st and the American 82nd and 101st , to secure key bridges and towns along the expected Allied axis of advance . Farthest north , 1st Airborne , supported by the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade , landed at Arnhem to secure bridges across the Nederrijn . Initially expecting an easy advance , XXX Corps planned to reach the airborne force at Arnhem within two to three days . 
