US General Dwight D. Eisenhower was Supreme Commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) and in that capacity was ultimately responsible for the planning and execution of the whole operation. British Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder was his deputy, while Major General Walter Bedell Smith was chief of staff.
Under Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
Commanded by Lieutenant General Lewis H. Brereton, USAAF
British I Airborne Corps
Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning; also deputy commander of the 1st Airborne Army
1st Airborne Division - Major-General Roy Urquhart1st Parachute Brigade - Brigadier Gerald Lathbury1st Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel David Dobie2nd Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost3rd Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel John A.C. Fitch1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery - Major William F. Arnold1st Parachute Field Squadron, Royal Engineers - Major Douglas C. Murray16th (Parachute) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps - Lieutenant-Colonel E. Townsend4th Parachute Brigade - Brigadier John W. Hackett10th Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth B.I. Smyth11th Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel George H. Lea156th Parachute Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard de Bacquencourt Des Voeux2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery - Major A.F. Haynes4th Parachute Field Squadron, Royal Engineers - Major Aeneas Perkins133rd (Parachute) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps - Lieutenant-Colonel W.C. Alford1st Airlanding Brigade - Brigadier Philip Hicks1st Battalion Border Regiment - Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Haddon2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment - Lieutenant-Colonel W. Derek H. McCardie7th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers - Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Payton-Reid9th Airborne Field Company, Royal Engineers - Major John C. Winchester181st (Airlanding) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps - Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur T. Marrable21st Independent Parachute Company (pathfinders) - Major Bernard Wilson1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lieutenant-Colonel William F.K. Thompson1st Forward (Airborne) Observation Unit, Royal Artillery - Major Denys R. Wight-Boycott1st Airborne Divisional Signals - Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Stephenson1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron - Major Charles Frederick H. Gough261st (Airborne) Field Park Company, Royal Engineers - detachments, Lieutenant William H. Skinner250th (Airborne) Light Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps1st (Airborne) Divisional Field Park, Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Major Cecil Cyril Chidgey1st (Airborne) Divisional Workshops, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers1st (Airborne) Divisional Provost Company, Corps of Military Police - Captain William B. Gray89th (Parachute) Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps - Captain John E. KillickGlider Pilot Regiment - Lieutenant-Colonel George Chatterton (flew to Nijmegen)No.1 Wing - Lieutenant-Colonel Iain MurrayNo.2 Wing - Lieutenant-Colonel John Place Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade - Brigadier-General Stanisław Sosabowski1st Parachute Infantry Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel M. Tonn2nd Parachute Infantry Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel W. Ploszewski3rd Parachute Infantry Battalion - Major W. Sobocinski 82nd Airborne Division - Brigadier General James M. Gavin504th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Colonel Reuben H. Tucker505th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Colonel William E. Eckman508th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Colonel Roy E. Lindquist325th Glider Infantry Regiment376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion80th Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion82nd Airborne Signal Company307th Airborne Engineer Battalion307th Airborne Medical Company82nd Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment782nd Airborne Ordnance Maintenance Company407th Airborne Quartermaster Company82nd Parachute Maintenance Company 101st Airborne Division - Major General Maxwell D. Taylor501st Parachute Infantry Regiment - Colonel Howard R. Johnson502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment - Lieutenant-Colonel John H. Michaelis506th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Colonel Robert F. Sink327th Glider Infantry Regiment1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry Regiment321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion81st Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion101st Airborne Signal Company326th Airborne Engineer Battalion326th Airborne Medical Company101st Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment801st Airborne Ordnance Maintenance Company426th Airborne Quartermaster Company101st Parachute Maintenance Company IX Troop Carrier Command - Major General Paul L. Williams50th Troop Carrier Wing (C-47 Skytrain) - Brigadier General Julian M. Chappell439th Troop Carrier Group440th Troop Carrier Group441st Troop Carrier Group442d Troop Carrier Group52nd Troop Carrier Wing (C-47) - Brigadier General Harold L. Clark61st Troop Carrier Group313th Troop Carrier Group314th Troop Carrier Group315th Troop Carrier Group316th Troop Carrier Group53rd Troop Carrier Wing (C-47) - Brigadier General Maurice M. Beach434th Troop Carrier Group435th Troop Carrier Group436th Troop Carrier Group437th Troop Carrier Group438th Troop Carrier GroupNo. 38 Group RAF - Air Marshal L.M. Hollinghurst (under operational control of IX Troop Carrier Command)No. 190 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 196 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 295 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 299 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 570 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 620 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 644 Squadron RAF (Stirlings)No. 296 Squadron RAF (Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle)No. 297 Squadron RAF (Albemarle)No. 198 Squadron RAF (Handley Page Halifax)No. 644 Squadron RAF (Halifax)No. 46 Group RAF - Air Commodore L. Darvall (under operational control of IX Troop Carrier Command) (Douglas Dakota)No. 48 Squadron RAFNo. 233 Squadron RAFNo. 271 Squadron RAFNo. 437 Squadron RAFNo. 512 Squadron RAFNo. 575 Squadron RAFNo. 437 Squadron RCAFCommanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey
Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor
11th Armoured Division - Major-General G. P. B. Roberts 3rd Infantry Division - Major-General L. G. Whistler 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division 4th Armoured Brigade - Brigadier R. M. P. Carver 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade - Colonel B. PironLieutenant-General Neil Ritchie
7th Armoured Division - Major-General G. L. Verney 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division - Major-General C. M. Barber 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division - Major-General R. K. RossLieutenant-General Brian Horrocks
2nd Household Cavalry Regiment Guards Armoured Division - Major-General A. H. S. Adair5th Guards Armoured Brigade2nd Armoured Battalion, Grenadier Guards1st Armoured Battalion, Coldstream Guards2nd Armoured Battalion, Irish Guards1st Motorised Battalion, Grenadier Guards32nd Guards Brigade5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards1st Battalion, Welsh Guards3rd Battalion, Irish Guards2nd Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion, Welsh Guards1st Independent Machine Gun Company (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)55th (Wessex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery153rd (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery21st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery94th Light Anti-Aircraft, Regiment Royal Artillery14th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers615th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers148th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers11th Bridging Troop, Royal EngineersGuards Armoured Division Postal Unit, Royal Engineers310th Armoured Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps224th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps535th Infantry Brigade Company, Royal Army Service Corps5th Guards Armoured Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers32nd Guards Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers19th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps128th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps8th Guards Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps60th Field Hygiene Section, Royal Army Medical Corps 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division - Major-General Ivor Thomas129th Infantry Brigade4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry4th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment130th Infantry Brigade4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment214th Infantry Brigade1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry43rd Reconnaissance Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Machine Guns)94th (Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery112th (Wessex) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery179th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery59th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery110th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery204th Field Company, Royal Engineers260th Field Company, Royal Engineers553rd Field Company, Royal Engineers207th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers13th Bridging Platoon, Royal Engineers16th Airfield Construction Group, Royal Engineers43rd (Wessex) Division Postal Unit, Royal Engineers54th Company, Royal Army Service Corps504th Company, Royal Army Service Corps505th Company, Royal Army Service Corps506th Divisional Company, Royal Army Service Corps 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division - Major-General D. A. H. Graham; On September 18, the division was transferred to VIII Corps69th Infantry Brigade5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment6th Battalion, Green Howards7th Battalion, Green Howards151st Infantry Brigade6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry231st Infantry Brigade1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment7th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (Machine Gun)74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery90th (City of London) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery124th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers501st Field Company, Royal Engineers505th Field Company, Royal Engineers235th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers50th (Northumbrian) Division Postal Unit, Royal Engineers 8th Armoured Brigade - Brigadier E. G. Prior-Palmer4th/7th Dragoon Guards13th/18th HussarsSherwood Rangers Yeomanry147th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery12th (Queen's Westminsters) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps Royal Netherlands Brigade 'Prinses Irene' - Colonel A. de Ruyter van Steveninck Second Tactical Air Force - Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham
No. 83 Group RAF - Air Vice-Marshal H. BroadhurstRCAF 39 Reconnaissance Wing121, 122, 123, 143 Wings (Typhoon)125 Wing (Spitfire)RCAF 126, 127 Wings (Spitfire)No. 2 Group RAF - Air Vice-Marshal B. E. Embry136, 138, 140 Wings (Mosquito)137, 139 Wings (B-25 Mitchell)No. 84 Group RAF - Air Vice Marshal Leslie BrownFighter Command - Air Marshal Roderick Hill
Bomber Command - Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris
RAF Coastal Command - Air Chief Marshal Sholto Douglas
U.S. Eighth Air Force - Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle
U.S. Ninth Air Force - Lieutenant General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
The majority of German units stationed west of the Rhine were under the responsibility of Oberbefehlshaber West (OB West), commanded at the time by Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt.
Due to a lack of replacements (both in terms of personnel and materiel) German units were generally severely understrength at this point in the war, with many units at about 50% of establishment strength.
German Armed Forces Group (AFC) Netherlands
Commanded by General der Flieger Friedrich Christiansen
Commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Walther Model
SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich
9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen - SS-Obersturmbannführer Walter Harzer9th SS Panzer Regiment19th and 20th SS Panzergrenadier Regiments9th SS Artillery Regiment9th SS Recon Battalion9th SS Antitank Battalion9th SS Engineer Battalion9th SS Flak Battalion9th SS Signals Battalion 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg - SS-Brigadeführer Heinz Harmel10th SS Panzer Regiment21st and 22nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiments10th SS Artillery Regiment10th SS Recon Battalion10th SS Antitank Battalion10th SS Engineer Battalion10th SS Flak Battalion10th SS Signals BattalionTraining Regiment of Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring- Oberstleutnant Fritz FullriedeKampfgruppe "Von Tettau" - Generalleutnant Hans von TettauKampfgruppe "Kraft"-SS-Sturmbannführer Sepp Kraft of Training and Replacement Battalion 16 {of the 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS}Kampfgruppe "Henke" - A Fallschirmjager training Regiment under the command of Oberst HenkeGeneral der Infanterie Gustav-Adolf von Zangen
LXVIII Corps
General der Infanterie Otto Sponheimer
346th Infantry Division - Generalleutnant Erich Diestel 711th Static Division - Generalleutnant Josef Reichert 719th Coastal Division - Generalleutnant Karl Sievers - Transferred to 1st Fallschirmarmee September 4.LXXXVIII Corps
General der Infanterie Hans-Wolfgang Reinhard
Kampfgruppe "Chill" - Generalleutnant Kurt Chill 59th Infantry Division - Generalleutnant Walter Poppe245th Infantry Division - Oberst Gerhard Kegler 712th Static Division - Generalleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm NeumannLXXXVI Corps
General der Infanterie Hans von Obstfelder
176th Infantry Division - Oberst Christian Landau - Transferred to 1st Fallschirmarmee September 4.Kampfgruppe "Walther"6th Parachute Regiment - Oberstleutnant Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte - Transferred to 1st Fallschirmarmee September 4.107th Panzer Brigade - Major Freiherr von MaltzahnDivision "Erdmann" - Generalleutnant Wolfgang Erdmann - Transferred to 1st Fallschirmarmee September 4.XII SS Corps
SS-Obergruppenführer Kurt von Gottberg
180th Infantry Division - Generalmajor Bernhard Klosterkemper190th Infantry Division - Generalleutnant Ernst Hammer363rd Volkgrenadier Division - Generalleutnant Augustus DettlingCorps "Feldt" - General der Kavalerie Kurt Feldt
406th Landesschützen Division - Generalleutnant ScherbenningColonel General Kurt Student
1st Parachute Army - Drawn from a pool of available units, almost all understrength; totaling 3,000 men as of September 1944I Parachute CorpsII Parachute Corps - General der Fallschirmtruppen Eugen Meindl86th Corps