At midday on 16 August, Kluge had refused an order from Hitler for another counter-attack, and in the afternoon Hitler agreed to a withdrawal but became suspicious that Kluge intended to surrender to the Allies. Late on 17 August, Hitler sacked Kluge and recalled him to Germany; Kluge then either killed himself or was executed by SS-officer Jürgen Stroop for his involvement in the 20 July plot. Kluge was succeeded by Field Marshal Walter Model, whose first act was to order the immediate retreat of the 7th Army and Fifth Panzer Army, while the "II SS Panzer Corps"—with the remnants of four Panzer divisions—held the north face of the escape route against the British and Canadians, and the "XLVII Panzer Corps"—with what was left of two Panzer divisions—held the southern face against the Third US Army.