Chosen to spearhead Ninth Army's drive to the historic Rhine, the Ozarks poised their strength on a narrow front between Linnich and Roerdorf. Every weapon, organic and attached, had been emplaced and sighted. Everything was closed up against the Roer, like a tightly coiled spring about to snap loose in fury. Artillery batteries were practically against its banks. Service elements and dumps were within striking distance of enemy artillery, often within range of his nebelwerfers. The division command post was in Linnich, barely 300 yards from the water's edge. This was a crucial day. The course of the war would depend on the next few hours.