Hitler’s first “stop” order has been the subject of some dispute, but doesn’t get as much attention as the second one issued in the next 10 days or so. Hitler wasn’t the only one who thought the panzers should pause and let the infantry catch up. His opinion was shared by Rundstedt, and Kleist carried out the order without objection. Halder, Brauchitsch and of course Guderian saw no need to stop. Halder and Brauchitsch got Hitler to rescind the order the next day, and Guderian more or less ignored it anyway.
The second stop order was influenced by Rommel’s dustup with the British armor at Arras. It took 88s in the anti-tank role to stop the Matildas used in the attac, and Rommel had a touch and go battle for a while [involving not only his 7th Pz., bu elements of the 3d SS “Totenkopf” mot. div.].
That British counterattack sent shockwaves all the way up the line, and Rundstedt was particularly voceriferous in demanding a halt so the infantry could catch up.
“Hitler wasn’t the only one who thought the panzers should pause and let the infantry catch up.”
FOG OF WAR...
The heavy tank casualties taken by 3 and 4 Pzd versus the French Cavalry Division during the battles of the 12-14 May are weighing in the High Command’s minds.
They know the French and British have more tanks, and are waiting for them to be committed, which explains Hitler’s concerns about a counter strike on the Southern flank.
What they don’t know is that Allied command and control of the field units is dissolving rapidly, and tank units are being committed piecemeal to plug local emergencies.
Actor Robert Montgomery describes this period pretty well in his book describing his service in the American Ambulance Service in France.