The Last Drop: Operation Varsity, March 24-25, 1945

Operation Varsity was the last major airborne offensive of World War II and remains the largest and most successful drop in history. Conducted primarily by the British 6th Airborne and the American 17th Airborne Divisions, including Canadian elements, the goal of the operation was to cross the Rhine River and gain a foothold in Germany. Drawing on war diaries, unit histories, after-action reports, and interviews with veterans, The Last Drop details the horrors of parachuting through flak-filled skies, the dangers of piloting a glider safely to the ground, and the struggles of infantry combat, and shows how thorough training, extensive planning, solid execution, and sheer guts combined to make Operation Varsity a stunning victory.