Bombs under the bridges in Boom

The liberators are coming

The last major obstacle awaited them just before Boom. The motorway crossed two bridges, the first over the Brussels-Rupel Canal and the second over the Rupel itself. German soldiers were ready and waiting to blow up the bridges. If they succeeded the Germans would gain time by delaying the Allied advance. An extra German division was already on its way from the Netherlands. 

A Belgian plan

Near Fort Breendonk, a Belgian civilian was able to halt the first British tanks just out of sight of the Germans stationed on the bridges in Boom. He was Robert Vekemans, a former army engineer. He informed the Allies of the threat of the bridges in Boom being blown up and suggested an alternative route. There was an unguarded pontoon bridge over the canal in Willebroek and a bridge over the Rupel a little further up in Klein-Willebroek. Explosives had been laid on the latter bridge, but it was only lightly guarded. 

The Germans are surprised

The Allies agreed to Vekemans’ plan. He led three tanks across the canal and the Rupel via the bridges in Willebroek and Klein-Willebroek. The Germans were unable to blow up the latter bridge. The tanks then advanced to the Rupel bridge in Boom and attacked the Germans from the rear. The Germans were taken totally by surprise and surrendered. The most important bridge across the Rupel had been taken. The road to Antwerp was open.