I believe Hitler issued orders that the Germans would retreat if they so much as heard a shot from the French.
That’s not to say, they wouldn’t have gone down the path they ultimately did, had it happened that way, but who knows?
From what I remember reading, Hitler was on pins and needles during that episode, and yes, you’re right, Hitler did issue orders to beat a hasty retreat if the French so much as fired a single shot.
Hitler would’ve looked like a fool; he’s gone far out on a limb, and he didn’t any room to climb back. It’s been speculated the German General Staff would have seriously considered launching a coup d’etat to overthrow his government.
They came close to that under Franz Halder during the Sudetenland Crisis; if Hitler had issued the order to invade Czechoslovakia, Halder had a committed group of conspirators who had a bona fide plan to overthrow Hitler.
What happened? Yep.....Neville Chamberlain happened. He inadvertently saved Hitler’s hide.
Blunder #x by the British in the run-up to WWII.