Back Brittiläinen 1. maahanlaskuprikaati Finnish 1-я воздушно-десантная бригада (Великобритания) Russian 1. zračnopristajalna brigada (Združeno kraljestvo) Slovenian
| 1st Airlanding Brigade | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Men_waiting_in_ditches.jpg) 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, at Arnhem | |
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role | Glider infantry |
| Size | 4 battalions (maximum) |
| Part of | 1st Airborne Division |
| Engagements | Sicily landings Battle of Arnhem Operation Doomsday |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Pip Hicks |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem of the British airborne forces | &sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:British_Airborne_Units.png) |
The 1st Airlanding Brigade was an airborne infantry brigade of the British Army during the Second World War and the only glider infantry formation assigned to the 1st Airborne Division, serving alongside the 1st Parachute Brigade and 4th Parachute Brigade.
The brigade was formed in late 1941 during the Second World War, through the conversion of an existing infantry brigade previously stationed in India, the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade. Two of the initial four infantry battalions left in May 1943 to form the new 6th Airlanding Brigade of the 6th Airborne Division and were replaced by a single new battalion, thereby reducing the brigade's strength by one quarter.
The brigade only saw action on two occasions during the Second World War, in Operation Ladbroke, as part of the Allied invasion of Sicily, in July 1943 and later in Operation Market Garden in September 1944. During the second operation, in the fighting around Arnhem, 1st Airlanding Brigade along with the rest of 1st Airborne Division held out against overwhelming German odds, sustaining very heavy losses. Only around 20 percent of the brigade were evacuated south of the River Rhine. The rest had either been killed, were missing or became prisoners of war.
Following the German surrender in mid-1945, 1st Airlanding Brigade were sent to Norway to disarm the German garrison. Later the same year the brigade was disbanded.