As soon as Patton had received the orders on the 19th to make a crossing, he had begun sending assault boats, bridging equipment, and other supplies forward from depots in Lorraine where they had been stockpiled since autumn in the expectation of just such an opportunity.
Så snart Patton den 19. marts havde fået ordre til at forberede en overgang over Rhinen var han begyndt at sende stormbåde, brobygningsudstyr og andre forsyninger frem fra depoter i Lorraine, hvor de havde været opmagasineret siden efteråret i forventning om netop sådan en mulighed.