The Germans issued orders to go on to the defensive along the entire front, but poorly communicated orders resulted in this being impossible to achieve, with some German forces retreating, and others preparing to hold their ground.
Tyskerne udstedte ordrer om at gå i defensiven langs hele fronten, men dårligt kommunikerede ordrer medførte at dette var umuligt at gennemføre, da nogle tyske enheder trak sig tilbage mens andre forberedte sig på at stå fast.