on the following day, a strategically valuable bridge was captured in an undamaged state by 1st panzer division at beaujeu-saint-vallier-pierrejux-et-quitteur, north of gray, enabling the germans to cross the saône river. during the river crossing, german pilots identified by guderian as belonging to wilhelm ritter von leeb's army group c. although the ground forces were delayed by the fact that they had to seek cover from the friendly fire, they suffered no casualties. in the afternoon, xxxix army corps reached besançon, whereas xli army corps took thousands of allied prisoners and captured 30 tanks at port-sur-saône, vesoul and bourbonne-les-bains. 16 june 1940 was also the date that philippe pétain became leader of france and began negotiating for a ceasefire with the germans.