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 single-lift drop in history. Conducted by the British 6th and the American 17th Airborne Divisions, 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.

Stephen L. Wright is co-author of One Night in June (978-1-8403-7183-3).