General Edgar Feuchtinger commanded the 21st Panzer Division resisting the Allied invasion and breakout. He eventually received a court martial for his incompetence and a reduction in rank to enlisted artilleryman, being shipped off to the Eastern Front. He exemplified his poor command skills by sitting idle all of the previous day as the British push continued, despite having the 13 operational Tigers of 503rd Heavy Panzer Detachment placed under his control for counterattacking. After a tardy discussion with his corps commander he began his attack. He remarked to an aide that, “as I could not stop this senseless attack . . . it’s in the interest of my men to obey.”

The fighting raged around Quarry Hill from the morning on, with the Germans finally forcing a gap between the 7th Seaforth Highlanders and the Royal Scots sometime after noon. The Germans committed more men and machines to exploit this success while the British sent for the 6th Kings Own Scottish Borderers to block the flood. The Borderers had been given red roses by their color-sergeants to wear on their helmets to remember the Battle of Minden on this day in 1759. They stopped just long enough to attach the fresh roses before counterattacking and bringing the German advance to a halt despite losing their commander. The Germans regrouped and tried again but heavy artillery fire and a flight of rocket-firing Typhoons convinced them they’d had enough for today.