The history of Arnhem goes back to theMiddle Ages. Arnhem got city-rights in1233 from the Count ofZutphen. The exact text is still kept in theDuivelshuis (Devil's house) which is now part of Arnhem's City Hall.
In 1850 Arnhem had 9,000 citizens. The city became popular with rich people from the western part of the Netherlands.
During theWorld War II Arnhem was severely damaged. TheBattle of Arnhem in 1944 is the sad story ofUK andPolishparatroopers who fought to get control of theRhine-bridge. According to the plan ofField Marshal Montgomery, Arnhem was the last in a series of bridges which would be taken byparatroopers. At the same time a ground-army would advance from the Belgium-Dutch border across all these bridges. This operation was calledOperation Market Garden. Market for theAirborne-element and Garden to represent the Ground-forces. Arnhem would be the responsibility of the British paratroopers, and would be the last bridge to be crossed by the ground forces.GeneralJohn Frost succeeded in taking the Arnhem bridge from theGermans. Due to several reasons Frost had toretreat, and the bridge was again in German control. ThemovieA Bridge Too Far is about this battle. After the Battle of Arnhem the Germans forced Arnhem's citizens toevacuate the city. This was because they were afraid another battle would have to be fought. When Arnhem's citizens came back, they found their city destroyed.
After the war Arnhem was rebuilt, including theEusebiuskerk (Eusebius Church). The bridge crossing the Rhine is now calledJohn Frost Bridge after the famous UK general, since 1978.
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