The Germans had constructed multiple belts of fortifications, but even so were loath to give up any of their positions without a fight. With the Scharnhorst Line compromised by the 60h Infantry's advance, Gen. Erich Bandenberger of Seventh Army fired Col. Eberhard Roseler of 89th Infantry Division and ordered his successor, Maj. Gen. Walter Bruns, to mount an immediate counterattack to restore the positions using some dubious reinforcements.

"Strengthened" by a battalion of Luftwaffe fortress troops, the German attack went forward with surprising enthusiasm and soon drove into the town of Hoefen. Confused by the strong reaction by the "beaten" Germans, the American regiment milled about for several hours before mounting a counterattack that drove the Germans back out. Signs like this should have warned the American command that the German Army sill retained a significant combat capability.