CHERBOURG Manche The surrender of General von Schlieben's fortress When General Collins arrived in front of Cherbourg fortress on 21 June 1944, General von Schlieben Commander of the Festung did not answer to the ultimatum. Von Schlieben was strictly ordered by the Führer to hold the position to the last of the 21,000 garrison men. The Fort du Roule, built on the cliff overlooking the harbor, was assaulted by the 314th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division. On 25 June, the top of the Fort is taken, and the following day the lower storeys and the battery of 105 mm guns are captured. On 26 June, General Von Schlieben surrendered; but during a week the Germans had been ruining, destroying and mining the harbour. Cherbourg was the key of the Allied Forces supplying, in the end of August, General Ross succeeded in making the harbour operational again.
Liberation Museum Museum located in a French Second Empire fort, at the top of the Montagne du Roule. No arm, nor uniform are presented in this museum which recalls, through expositions, the German occupation, the D-Day, and the part of Cherbourg in the Allied Forces supplying.     Sergeant Finley plaque Plaque in memory of Sergeant William Finley of the 9th American Infantry division, the first soldier to step into the city hall on 26 June 1944. Situation : in front of the city hall
ROAD MAP			INTERESTING WEB SITES City of Cherbourg web site - page about the Liberation http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/ Personal web site about the Second World War Generals http://www.generals.dk/ Manche departmental tourism office web site http://www.manchetourisme.com/ US Army official web site about technical units of D-day http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/Normandy/TS/index.htm   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved