 To achieve this , both divisions would be dropped near the village of Hamminkeln , and were tasked with a number of objectives : they were to seize the Diersfordter Wald , a forest that overlooked the Rhine , including a road linking several towns together ; several bridges over a smaller waterway , the River Issel , were to be seized to facilitate the advance ; and the village of Hamminkeln was to be captured . The Diersfordter Wald was chosen by Lt @-@ Gen. Dempsey as the initial objective because its seizure would deny the Germans artillery positions from which they could disrupt Second Army 's bridging operations . Once these objectives were taken , the airborne troops would consolidate their positions and await the arrival of Allied ground forces , defending the territory captured against the German forces known to be in the area . 
