ASSAULT OF THE MEUSE
“AT MIDNIGHT, PANZERGRENADIERS WADED ACROSS THE RIVER AND TOOK CONTROL OF HOUSES AROUND THE BRIDGE”
The bridges over the Meuse River were prime targets for the German assault, so the Allies needed to reinforce them as quickly as possible. With most fighting units tied up holding back the expanding bulge in the front line, this task fell to reserve troops and those not usually deployed in combat. On 19 December, Field Marshal Montgomery – who was in charge of the British forces held in reserve – ordered what units he had to hand to defend the crossings at Namur, Dinant and Givet.
The German assault was still a long way short of reaching the Meuse by then, but as they were clearly aiming to
