The Driel ferry - disabled for the Germans and unusable for the Poles
In September 1944, the Poles arrived in Driel. The intention was to cross the Rhine here, using the Driel ferry. Across the river, in Oosterbeek, the 1st British Airborne Division was surrounded.
The British waited anxiously for the Polish reinforcements from the south. As early as Wednesday September 20th, ferryman Peter Hensen saw that on the other side, German troops were in control of the area. The ferry operator therefore decided to disable the ferry to prevent the Germans from using it. As a result, the Polish troops were also unable to use the ferry.
Take a look
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The ferry before the war. This ferry, on which cars could cross the river, had been disabled by the ferryman in order to prevent the German troops from using it. . © Gelders Archief: 1513 - 3271
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The ferryman Peter Hensen after the war on his ferry with Major General Sosabowski. © Via particuliere collectie