The 1st British Airborne Division is a parachute unit created during the Second World War during which it suffered many losses and in particular during Operation Market Garden, which made it famous in its defense of the Arnhem Bridge.
It was also the first division to wear the Maroon beret (en) better known in France as the amaranth beret or red beret.
Creation and history
Creation
The 1st Airborne Division was created on October 31, 1941 and placed under the command of Lieutenant General Browning. Constituted at its creation of the 1st parachute brigade and the 1st air transportable brigade, it was reinforced in July 1942 by the 2nd parachute brigade and thus reached the size of a division.
North Africa
At the end of 1942, the 1st Parachute Brigade being sent to North Africa to take part in the Desert War, the 3rd Parachute Brigade was attached to it in order to complete the manpower.
On May 1, 1943, the division, under the command of General Hopkinson, was sent to North Africa and joined the 1st Parachute Brigade. It leaves behind the 3rd Brigade, which will form the base of the 6th Airborne Division.
Sicily and Italy
The 1st Parachute Brigade and 1st Airborne Brigade take part in the invasion of Sicily. Especially at Operation Ladbroke. On September 9, 1943, the unit was ordered to advance on Taranto, Italy. Immediately after taking the port, the 2nd and 4th Parachute Brigades (the 4th Brigade had just joined the division) advanced inland. General Hopkinson is killed and command is then given to General Down who was then in command of the 1st Parachute Brigade.
In November, the division was ordered back to England while its 2nd Parachute Brigade was detached and remained in Italy as a separate unit.
Landing and Normandy
In January 1944, General Urquhart was given command of the division. On D Day, the division was placed in reserve while the British 6th Airborne Division was parachuted into the skies of France. During the early stages of the fighting in Normandy, it was planned to blow up the division south of the city of Caen in support of Operation Perch, but the Air Force opposed this considering it too risky. for the men of the division and the pilots in charge of transporting them.
On August 2, 1944, the division was integrated into the 1st Allied Airborne Army.
Between Normandy and Arnhem (Operation Market Garden), about 17 airborne operations were planned for the 1st Airborne, but they were all canceled for one reason or another, usually because the ground units were advancing so quickly that they were overshooting their targets. . For this reason, the division was given the name Division Stillborn.
Operation Market Garden
Division Commanders
1941 - 1943:Lieutenant General Browning
1943 - 1943:General Hopkinson (killed in action)
1943 - 1944:General Down
1944 - 1944:General Urquhart
1st British Airborne Division
Creation October 31, 1943
Dissolution November 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Parachute Division
Role Airborne Operation
Strength 10,000
Wars World War II
Battles Operations Colossus, Biting, Freshman, Husky, Avalanche, Market Garden, Fustian, Tunisia Campaign, Denmark, Norway
Historic Commander Lieutenant General Browning
General Urquhart