Capture of Cherbourg 18–30 June 1944

As the Americans pushed to the end of the Cotentin Peninsula, they closed in on the heavily fortified city of Cherbourg. Once Cherbourg had been fully surrounded on 22 June, the Americans pushed to encircle the area in readiness for an assault on the remaining forces within the city from higher ground. Following the naval bombardment on 25 June, which had taken out a few key batteries, and bombing runs from the US Air Force which helped scatter the defenders, the Americans made their final push through the city, engaging in close quarters combat with the defenders. The worn-down defending forces were exhausted and, following the surrender of scattered units, the final main garrison gave up their position on 27 June. Over the next few days the Americans suppressed some final pockets of resistance as they moved along the coast to the west where the remaining German forces had been cornered.