 On 2 August , Hitler sent a directive to Kluge ordering " an immediate counter @-@ attack between Mortain and Avranches " . General Walter Warlimont — the Deputy Chief of Staff at OKW , the German armed forces headquarters — was also sent to Kluge 's headquarters to ensure these orders were complied with . Kluge suggested that there was no chance of success , and the German forces in Normandy should retire to the Seine River , pivoting on the intact defences south of Caen , but on 4 August , Hitler categorically ordered the attack to be launched . He demanded that eight of the nine Panzer Divisions in Normandy be used in the attack , and that the Luftwaffe commit its entire reserve , including 1 @,@ 000 fighters . According to Hitler , three qualifications had to be met for the attack to proceed . " Von Kluge must believe in it . He must be able to detach enough armour from the main front in Normandy to create an effective striking force , and he must achieve surprise " . 
