 In the southernmost sector of the 21st Army Group's attack, the 9th Army's assault divisions were to cross the Rhine along an section of the front, south of Wesel and the Lippe River.This force would block any German counterattack from the Ruhr.Because of the poor road network on the east bank of this part of the Rhine, a second 9th Army corps was to cross over the promised Wesel bridges through the British zone north of the Lippe River, which had an abundance of good roads.