The bridges of the Meuse

As the German armour approached the Meuse, destroying its bridges became imperative to slow the enemy and hold the line of the river. The Belgian engineers, like the French engineers further south, were tasked with blowing the works at the right moment — neither too soon (which would cut off one's own retreating troops), nor too late (which would leave them intact for the enemy).

The sapper's dilemma was cruel and tightly timed. Blowing the bridges as soon as the Germans approached risked trapping friendly units and refugees still on the east bank. Waiting for the last moment and the formal order risked having commandos or advance guards seize them intact (as at Houx or Gennep). Or one could defend the bridges in order to destroy them in coordinated fashion later on.

Across a broad front and in the confusion of the enemy advance, communications were uncertain, orders were late, and each prepared bridge was a special case. The success or failure of these demolitions determined the solidity of the Meuse line — the obstacle meant to stop the "Blitzkrieg".