tactically, "nr. 9" instructed 2nd panzer division to cross the canal between équancourt and manancourt to then seize the le mesnil heights. from there, a southern thrust was to cover 1st panzer's advance; an advance that would take the division from its canal crossing at moislains to the rancourt heights. the somme had large symbolic significance due to its importance during world war one, but the capture of péronne also meant that the route towards amiens in the south and arras in the north and thus the last major french settlements (next to abbeville) between the german lines and the english channel was now open. at the evening of the 19th, the xix army corps had reached the line cambrai-péronne-ham. 10th panzer division took the left flank to relieve the overstretched 1st panzer division, which had taken most of the offensive actions of the day. there, 10th panzer would have to capture corbie on the following day to support the xix army corps' general assault on amiens, the largest french city in the region. once more, 10th panzer division was supported by the 29th infantry division in its defensive assignments.