Geronimo Memorial Eerde, 2009

The Geronimo Memorial in Eerde is dedicated to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

 

This regiment was dropped at Eerde during Operation Market-Garden on Sunday, September 17th, 1944. The dropzone’s for 501st 2nd and 3rd battalion were located in the area just behind the village windmill, 1st battalion was dropped at Veghel.

 

The Airborne’s had to conquer the corridor between Sint- Oedenrode and Uden and keep it open for the advancing

troops of British 30th Army. Important parts of that corridor were the bridges in Veghel that crossed the canal called Zuid-Willemsvaart and the River Aa.

 

Heavy fighting occurred in and around Eerde the following

day’s and the village would change hands a couple of time’s. During the fighting the Airborne’s used the windmill as an

observation post. This post directed mortar fire on German

troops that attacked Eerde from the direction of Schijndel coming trough sand dunes that in those day’s existed west of the village. The mortar section was dug in at the church.

 

The windmill and the church of Eerde became badly damaged by grenades and German shells during the fighting and the Windmill would change hands six times.

 

Eerde was finally liberated on Sunday, September 24.