The Normandy landings took place beginning 6 June 1944 . 21st Panzer Division under '' Generalmajor '' Edgar Feuchtinger , positioned south of Caen , was the only panzer division close to the beaches . The division included 146 tanks and 50 assault guns , plus supporting infantry and artillery . At 02:00 , '' Generalleutnant '' Wilhelm Richter , commander of the 716th Static Infantry Division , ordered 21st Panzer Division into position to counter-attack . However , as the division was part of the armoured reserve , Feuchtinger was obliged to seek clearance from OKW before he could commit his formation . Feuchtinger did not receive orders until nearly 09:00 , but in the meantime on his own initiative he put together a battle group ( including tanks ) to fight the British forces east of the Orne . '' SS-Hitlerjugend '' began to deploy in the afternoon of 6 June , with its units undertaking defensive actions the following day . They also took part in the Battle for Caen ( June – August 1944 ) . On 7 – 8 and 17 June , members of the '' SS-Hitlerjugend '' shot and killed twenty Canadian prisoners of war in the Ardenne Abbey massacre
Ardenne Abbey massacre
Ardenne Abbey massacre
Schutzstaffel