18 may began with a corps directive, "korpsbefehl nr. 8", at 0:45 just after midnight. the directive warned the officers that most somme crossings and bridges were in allied hands and thus instructed a swift series of surprise attacks to quickly break the resistance at the bridgeheads. 2nd panzer was to advance from origny and ribemont, force itself across the somme on both sides of morcourt and then swiftly take the heights between villeret and le vergier. from there, it was to make a swift attack against saint-quentin, the most important city in the area. in the meantime, 1st panzer would advance on 2nd panzer's left from bezieres and hamegicourt, force the river crossing on both sides of castres and then make a rapid advance towards the poeuilly heights. 10th panzer was to follow on the left rear of the corps, covering the flank of the other two divisions against possible allied counter-attacks from the laon area. 10th panzer was also tasked with destroying dangerous bridges that might be used to support allied counter-offensives.