THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM HARTENSTEIN
Near ARNHEM, HOLLAND
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September 1944. After their long retreat from Normandy, the HQ of Field Marshal Model's Army Group B set up in the hotels, houses and woods of Oosterbeek near Arnhem.
Shortly after midday on Sunday the 17th, the Field Marshall prepared to sit down to his lunch at the Hotel Tafelberg, while in the nearby Hotel Hartenstein, a cold meal was laid out for his senior staff officers, but they were soon disturbed by the sound of low flying aircraft a few miles to the west. The Chief of Staff rushed in to report to FM Model one or two parachute divisions are landing on top of us. Fearing imminent capture, the Field Marshall, together with all his HQ, retreated rapidly to Arnhem and beyond.
Towards evening, soldiers of 5 Platoon 3rd Parachute Battalion advanced across the lawns of the Hartenstein and entered the hotel, and started to finish off the lunch on the table until moved on abruptly by their Company Commander. |
Field Marshall Model outside
the Hartenstein |
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Major General Urquhart at his
Hartenstein HQ, 19th Sept 1944 |
During the next morning, the HQ of the 1st Airborne Division set up in the Hartenstein as a temporary measure before moving into the planned location in Arnhem. Soon the rooms and cellars were filled with the clatter of an operational HQ staff officers, signallers, clerks, telephones, radios, maps etc..... Slit trenches were dug in the gardens and Jeeps were dispersed around.
The story of the Battle of Arnhem / Oosterbeek that followed is well known. While Lieutenant Colonel John Frost's small force held on at the bridge for three days, other battalions in their fight to reach the bridge were repulsed. Other battalions were cut to pieces in the woods fighting their way towards Oosterbeek, where for another six days the remnants of the Division held a tight perimeter based on the River Rhine and with Hotel Hartenstein as its central point.
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With its conspicuous position and its important function, it soon became scarred by bullet strikes, and from mortar and shellfire. Its grounds were marred by slit trenches, smashed vehicles, broken trees and hastily dug graves. The cellars overflowed with wounded. But it was from here that Major General Urquhart instilled his courage into the ever dwindling band of airborne soldiers to hold on to their positions in what the Germans called "The Cauldron", until final evacuation of the survivors over the river. The next morning, the Germans moved into the Hartenstein garrisoned now only by the wounded in the cellars and the dead lying outside
Since the war, the Battle of Arnhem has become a subject of great interest, not only for what it might have achieved, but also equally for the courage of the British and Polish Airborne troops, together with the many brave Dutch people who helped them both during and after the battle. The two enduring images that represent the battle are the bridge at Arnhem and the Hartenstein. It was therefore fitting that in 1978 the Airborne Museum moved from Doorwerth Castle into the one time hotel after it had been nominated as a historic monument and acquired by the Municipality of Renkum
A select group of dedicated volunteers over a number of years built up by their enthusiasm, knowledge and hard work, what is now a world renowned war museum, The Airborne Museum Hartenstein. It was officially opened in May 1978 by General Urquhart. Since then it has grown from strength to strength, run almost entirely by volunteers, with its imaginative displays of weapons, equipment, uniforms, maps, pictures and photographs. Some 60,000 people of all nations visit the Museum each year, and it is also the centre of numerous battlefield tours by Service units and others interested in the story of the battle and the lessons to be learned. It is also a point of pilgrimage for the surviving veterans of the battle, and now for their sons and grandsons and their families. |
German field burial site of 35 Airborne soldiers outside the Hartenstein 1944 |
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A casualty is evacuated to the Hartenstein |
However, in this modern age there is a need for museums to be more than a collection of memorabilia, but rather they should aim to educate and stimulate the younger generation, not only as a means to teach history, but especially to instil the conviction that wars must never again occur in Europe. Therefore the presentation of the collection will be modernised and given a fresh look. Digital and multi-media presentations will support the exhibitions. The more important aspects of the battle will be handled in special thematic rooms. Perception, experience and interaction are keywords for interesting the public, but at the same time the classical values of respect and integrity will not be lost.
The Museum has therefore embarked on an ambitious plan to enlarge the space available, but without unduly disturbing the outer appearance of the historic building and its lovely setting. At the same time, it is hoped to restore some of the rooms back to their pre-war elegance. The attached sketches and plans show the outline of the proposed enlargement and refurbishment, which the Board of Trustees hope to achieve. It will be seen that to gain the extra space needed there is to be an underground extension, almost doubling the size of the Museum. The target is to have the enlargements completed by the time of the 65th anniversary of the battle in 2009. It is obvious that a scheme of this nature will be costly and the Board are now active in promoting a drive to acquire the necessary funds. Some, it is hoped, will be found by local authorities, while local organisations and individuals will also contribute. |
| This Museum could also be said to be "our Museum". It reflects the courage and the sacrifice of our Airborne soldiers and airmen of Britain, Poland, the Commonwealth and of the United States of America, together with our brave Dutch friends. At the same time, its message will be a continuing inspiration for our younger generation, and especially for the soldiers now serving in today's Airborne units. We should, therefore, make our own contributions towards the cost of this very worthwhile enterprise. |
THE HARTENSTEIN MUSEUM WILL WELCOME ANY DONATIONS.
(Please send Cheques/donations to "The Parachute Regiment Central Fund" clearly marked "Hartenstein Appeal".)
Please send to : The Treasurer. RHQ PARA, Flagstaff House, Napier Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7SW. United Kingdom.
Telephone +44(0)1026 782342
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Blueprint of proposed plans
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Artistic impression of the proposed plans |
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Airborne Soldiers attempt to mark
DZ for a resupply drop by RAF aircraft at Hartenstein |
Hartenstein May 1945
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General Sir Mike Jackson, Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment and Sir Colin Budd, Ambassador to the Netherlands, congratulate the Red Devils Free Fall Parachute Display Team during the annual commemoration ceremony September 2003. |
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