The left flank, comprised of the German First and Eighth Corps, swiftly advanced southward from Amiens. Upon receiving this intelligence, the British Expeditionary Force's First Army, Third Army, and the French First Army immediately entered a state of readiness, preparing to counter the impending German assault.
However, the Allies found themselves at a loss regarding the direction of the German offensive, unsure of where to concentrate their defenses.
In the small town of Omer, located about twenty kilometers southwest of Amiens and home to just over ten thousand residents, the strategic significance of this location was deemed minimal within the fortified lines established by the Allies. The town was defended by the Second Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force.
The division's headquarters was situated in the town hall of Omer, where the majority of its inhabitants were British soldiers, with only a scant few civilians remaining. Most of the local populace had fled south when the war broke out.
"General, a telegram from the corps headquarters," an officer reported to Major General George Milne, commander of the Second Infantry Division.
Upon reading the telegram, Milne dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "The Germans have commenced their attack, but what concern is that to us? Omer, though not far from Amiens, is unlikely to be their target. If the Germans intend to strike, they will undoubtedly aim directly at Paris."
In Milne's estimation, Omer was exceedingly secure. Although this safety might imply a lack of opportunity for glory, it afforded him the assurance of his troops' well-being. After all, the Germans were not to be trifled with, and avoiding direct confrontation while ensuring a safe deployment was the wisest course.
"General, should we heighten our vigilance?" the officer inquired.
"There is no need. Let the troops carry on with their duties!" Milne replied, shaking his head.
His over ten thousand British soldiers were quite occupied during this period. Although the town of Omer held few residents, nearby there were many French civilians. Young French women, whose husbands had gone to the front lines, found themselves engulfed in a profound sense of emptiness and loneliness. His soldiers busied themselves offering comfort to these women.
As the division commander, Milne felt reluctant to disrupt his soldiers' efforts, especially since there were no immediate threats to confront.
Consequently, even though the Second Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force received orders to bolster their defenses, they were unprepared when the German forces launched their surprise attack.
On the afternoon of April 1st, the German Eighth Armored Division and the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division arrived at Omer.
Major General Heinz Guderian, commander of the Sixth Armored Division, gazed incredulously at the reconnaissance officer.
"Are you certain the British within the town are completely unprepared?" Guderian asked.
"Yes, General. We captured a few British soldiers who revealed that their comrades are preoccupied with merriment and have no defenses in place," the officer reported.
"Ha! God bless. If these British are caught off guard, they are indeed walking to their own demise. General Cavill, it seems victory will be easily within our grasp this time," Guderian proclaimed.
General Cavill of the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division nodded in agreement.
After departing from Amiens, the Eighth Armored Division and the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division advanced rapidly southward as the vanguard of the corps. To ensure that the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division kept pace with the Eighth Armored Division, a considerable number of trucks were allocated for the transportation of troops and supplies. The same provisions were made for the First Armored Division and the First Infantry Division of the First Corps. These two armored and infantry divisions would serve as the striking force of the entire left flank.
The Germans promptly prepared to launch their assault, positioning the artillery of the Eighth Armored Division and the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division for action. Given that the British forces within the town were unprepared, the artillerymen had not even established firing positions.
"Fire!"
At the command of the artillery officer, the cannons of the Eighth Armored Division and the Thirty-Fourth Infantry Division roared to life. Thirty-six 150 mm heavy howitzers, seventy-two 105 mm light howitzers, and one hundred eight 75 mm field guns unleashed a torrent of shells upon the British positions outside Omer.
Despite the absence of troops on the British defenses, it was deemed essential to first destroy their positions. This way, even if the British discovered the attack, they would be unable to utilize those fortifications for their defense.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The artillery unleashed its fury, sending shells crashing into the British lines. The resounding explosions tore through the British defenses, systematically demolishing their fortifications.
When the bombardment commenced, Major General George Milne's expression turned to one of dismay.
"Damn it! Where is this shelling coming from?" Milne cursed, a deep sense of foreboding settling in.
Two minutes later, a frantic British officer burst in to report.
"General, we have a grave situation! The area outside the town is swarming with Germans. They are bombarding our positions furiously and will likely launch an assault soon," the officer reported.
"What? The Germans are truly here? My God! Gather the troops at once and prepare to resist the German onslaught!" Milne ordered.
However, his forces had already dispersed; rallying them now would prove exceedingly difficult.
The German bombardment continued for twenty minutes, extending into the town.
Simultaneously, the tanks of the Eighth Armored Division initiated their attack.
As these dark steel behemoths charged into Omer, the British soldiers, who had only just managed to regroup, instantly broke into a panic. To them, these impenetrable iron monsters appeared as harbingers of doom.
Within the span of two hours, the Germans had seized Omer. The Second Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force stationed there was swiftly routed. Apart from a few who fell in battle, the majority fled. The number of captured soldiers amounted to only two to three thousand.
The ease with which Omer was taken left Guderian astounded. However, the British seemed woefully unprepared, a fortuitous circumstance for the Germans, indicating that their path forward would likely be met with continued success.
Guderian promptly commanded his forces to rest in Omer for the night, resupplying with combat materials and fuel, intending to resume their southern advance at dawn the next day.