​​To support and sustain the landings in Normandy, logistical supplies would be key. The Mulberry artificial harbours would support this, but if possible, a deep-water port would further assist in the disembarkation of supplies.&nbsp;​The closest deep-water port to the five landing beaches that would be achievable to advance towards was that of Cherbourg on the northern coastline of the Cotentin peninsula. From 14 June, the US 9th &amp; 79th Infantry Divisions pushed north and towards the city. A siege would then ensue as the German forces looked to resist the American advance. They would also begin to destroy and scuttle the port facilities to deny their use to the allies.&nbsp;​General Von Schlieben surrendered the city and the remaining German forces on 26 June.&nbsp;​The walk takes the visitor into the story of the battle of Cherbourg with the Musée de la Libération. Around the area of the port and quays, numerous German defensive positions can still be located.&nbsp;​At the Cherbourg old Communal Cemetery, there are just over 700 burials. The British and Commonwealth burials number 86 graves, the majority from the 1940 period during the German advance and the fall of France. There is a large French plot containing men who died during the First World War.&nbsp;​Numerous memorials can be found that commemorate the battle of Normandy, those who resisted the German occupation, and the liberation by the Americans in June 1944.​&nbsp;

France

La Route de la Libération de l’Europe est un itinéraire culturel certifié par le Conseil de l'Europe reliant les pays, régions, lieux de mémoire et histoires marquant la libération de l’Europe de l’occupation du régime nazi. La route a été conçue par la Fondation LRE comme un moyen de réfléchir à l’histoire de la guerre et à ses conséquences à longs termes grâce à une approche multinationale et multi perspective. Avec des centaines de sites et histoires dans neuf pays européens, la route relie les principales régions traversées par les forces Alliées en 1943-1945.La Fondation LRE et sa branche nationale LRE France présentent ici la Route de la Libération en France, la partie française de l’itinéraire qui vise à créer des sentiers de la mémoire dans toutes les régions françaises touchées par la Seconde Guerre mondiale et la Libération. Vous pouvez ainsi découvrir et visiter des musées, des monuments et des sites historiques, et en apprendre plus sur les histoires et les itinéraires thématiques de la LRE en France.

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The port of Cherbourg would be key to the supply chains for the allies in Normandy. After bitter fighting the town was liberated but the port facility destroyed. Over the coming months it would slowly be rebuilt and begin to operate.​ 

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The siege of Cherbourg

​​On 25 June 1924, William F Finley was born in Macon, Macon County, Illinois, USA. He enlisted and served in the 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.&nbsp;​The Division was one of the first US combat units to see action in the Pacific theatre of war. They would then be redeployed to Africa in 1942 and Italy in 1943. They would be withdrawn from Italy and sent to the UK for training prior to D-Day, 6 June 1944. They would land on Utah Beach on D+4, 10 June. They would immediately push northwards and towards the city of Cherbourg.&nbsp;​Initially, the 39th Infantry Regiment was attached to the US 4th Infantry Division as they pushed along the eastern coastline of the Cotentin. The regiment was known as the ‘Anything, Anywhere, Anytime- Bar Nothing!’ Following the capture of Quineville, the Regiment returned to the Division.&nbsp;Between 14 and 25 June, the Division fought against stubbornly well-placed German defences. They slowly surrounded the city as the Germans started to use the port's defences, but slowly the Americans neutralised this threat. The port had been scuttled and badly damaged beyond use. The German forces surrendered the following day.&nbsp;​It was here at the Hotel de Ville that Sergeant William F. Finley became the first US soldier to arrive. This is commemorated with a plaque to him.&nbsp;​He went on to follow the American advance into Germany. During his active service, he was awarded a Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart. He died of wounds on 1 April 1945 and is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten. His final gallantry award, a silver star, was awarded posthumously.&nbsp;​‘The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant William F. Finley (ASN: 35782572), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 9th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 12 December 1944, in the vicinity of Derichweiler, Germany. While accompanying his company commander on a reconnaissance mission, Sergeant Finley was subjected to intense enemy machine pistol fire. Working his way around to the front of the house, he then crawled across the roof of a barn, although he was exposed to the direct observation and fire of the enemy located in the shed of the barn. Opening fire on the shed with his rifle, he then jumped from the rooftop and raced to the window of the shed. He threw two hand grenades inside the building and killed two enemy soldiers, neutralizing a mortar observation post. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.’​&nbsp;&nbsp;

​​Sergeant William F.Finley​ 

​​The two ‘Battle Groups’ consisted of Royal Navy (RN) and United States Ships (USS), supported by additional naval craft and air force assets.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 included the battleship USS Nevada, a Pearl Harbour survivor. It was joined by cruisers USS Tuscaloosa, USS Quincy, HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise, along with destroyers USS Ellyson, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman, USS Emmons, USS Murphy and USS Gherardi.&nbsp;​Battle Group 2 comprised the battleships USS Texas and USS Arkansas, supported by destroyers USS Barton, USS O’Brien, USS Laffey, USS Hobson and USS Plunkett.&nbsp;​Each ship had air spotters operating in pairs to observe and relay the fall of naval gunfire. Ground officers also communicated directly with ships to call in or adjust fire.&nbsp;​At 09:40 on 25 June, the battle groups moved towards Cherbourg, positioned roughly 15 miles out to sea. Minesweepers led the approach, clearing paths while under fire from German coastal batteries.&nbsp;​By 09:50, Battle Group 2 reached its fire support area. From 18,000 yards, USS Arkansas opened fire on the Hamburg Battery at Fermanville. German guns returned fire. Most rounds missed, but USS Barton was damaged by a ricochet, and USS O’Brien was hit on the bridge.&nbsp;​Battle Group 1 moved closer to shore, with destroyers laying smoke screens against incoming fire. They engaged the Querqueville Battery. After a four-hour duel, the battery was temporarily neutralised. HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise were both hit but remained operational.&nbsp;​At 12:12, ground forces began calling in fire missions. USS Nevada and USS Quincy engaged multiple inland targets over the next three and a half hours. USS Ellyson and HMS Glasgow supported attacks on Gruchy, where Glasgow fired a 54-round salvo that silenced the battery. USS Emmons targeted Fort De l’Est.&nbsp;​At 13:35, the USS Texas was struck by a shell from the Hamburg Battery. It was a dud and failed to explode. Supported by USS Arkansas, both ships continued to bombard the battery and another position nearby. Around 14:00, USS Nevada joined the attack.&nbsp;​By 15:00, the order was given to cease fire and withdraw.&nbsp;​General ‘Lightning Joe’ Collins of the US VII Corps later wrote to Admiral Morton Deyo, commander of the naval battle groups:&nbsp;​“The naval bombardment of the coastal batteries and the covering strong points around Cherbourg ... results were excellent, and did much to engage the enemy's fire while our troops stormed into Cherbourg from the rear.”&nbsp;

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

​​The memorial was the intention of a former resistance fighter and deportee of Cherbourg. In 1952, Marcel Leclerc wanted a memorial to remember those who had been killed by the Nazi’s during the occupation.&nbsp;​In 1956, the Marie, René Schmitt honoured this with the construction and inauguration of the memorial. The memorial is a tall triangle design with a tip that represents the resistance driving against the oppression. &nbsp;​At the base of the memorial are sixteen urns that are buried. Each contains the ashes of resistance fighters of the Beaucoudray maquis, Saint-Jean-du-Corail, Jura, and Vercors. Some of the urns contain the soil from extermination camps.&nbsp;​Marcel Leclerc, who wanted the memorial, was born in Cherbourg in 1899. He worked as a teacher and, during the Second World War founded the Liberation-Nord network in 1942 alongside René Schmitt. In 1943 he was arrested in Saint-James alongside some of his students from Cherbourg. On 11 November 1943, he was transported to Natzweiler-Struthof, Germany. He survived his time in the camp, being evacuated to Dachau in September 1944. He was released on 29 April 1945 and returned to Cherbourg on 3 June. He was lucky to survive, unlike many others who stood up to resistance.&nbsp;​The transportation that Marcel Leclerc was on saw five others who worked in Cherbourg or close by being deported.&nbsp;​Raymond Brule worked in a local distillery, he was a veteran of the First World War, he joined the resistance in 1942. In 1943 his network was infiltrated by the Gestapo, which led to his deportation. He would eventually be transported to Gross-Rosen concentration camp. In appalling conditions, he would die on 17 December 1944.&nbsp;​Alfred Duros worked with Raymond Brule and joined the resistance at the same time. He was arrested at the same time and was also part of the 11 November transportation. He followed Brule to the same camp in Poland before being moved to Dachau. He would die on 30 April 1945, the day after the liberation of the camp by American forces.&nbsp;​Emile Lecarpentier from Octeville joined the resistance. He would distribute leaflets and sheltered resistance fighters. He was arrested on 7 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He would be sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would die there on 26 May 1944.&nbsp;​Louis Legaigneur was arrested on 4 September 1943 for cutting telephone cables in Gatteville-le-Phare. He was deported on 11 November to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany. He would be evacuated from here in September to Dachau. He would die there on 30 January 1945.&nbsp;​Angel Leparquier worked locally in Cherbourg arsenal factories. He was an active part of the resistance and would carry out acts of sabotage. He was arrested on 9 May 1943 and deported on 11 November. He was sent to Natzweiler-Struthof Camp, Germany, and would die there on 7 May 1944.&nbsp;​The memorial stands as a reminder to those brave acts carried out by many, such as these local men.&nbsp;

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

​​Cherbourg was one of the most heavily defended cities in the Normandy region. A main reason for that was due to the port. This had been extensively used by the occupying forces including the construction of E boat pens and facilities for Hitler’s vengeance weapons.&nbsp;​The German occupying forces finally surrendered to the American forces on the 26 June. During the intense fighting from 14 June when the siege of the city began, over 12,000 Germans were killed. The remainder were wounded or captured, taking the number of German casualties up to 30,000.&nbsp;​When the American forces finally got to the area of the port in Cherbourg, they found that the German forces had scuttles it. This meant that for it to be used as an operational port by the allies, reconstruction would need to take place.&nbsp;​This was carried out and by 16 July 1944, the port was open to large ships. They would be able to moor quay side and unloading of supplies conducted. The port facility would continue to be rebuilt and expanded as the port would become an essential supply line for the allies as they advanced beyond Normandy.&nbsp;​The memorial plaque commemorates the city being awarded recognition of the battle in June 1944, it states-&nbsp;​City of Cherbourg&nbsp;​Citation in the order of the Army&nbsp;​The Patriot city plays a considerable role in the battle of Medeas in 1944 on the Western Front. Liberated on June 26 and 27 by the troops of the First American Army, immediately got to work with ardor. Its specialist, its arsenal workers and its dockers helping the Americans allowed the rapid use of the port. Despite the damage that its installations had suffered, the wrecks broke in the passes and the mines which are thrilled there, was eight months the source of men and material for all the American war potential.&nbsp;​War Cross with Palm, Paris 2 June 1948&nbsp;

Memorial Battle of Normandy

Ten days after the Allied D-Day landing, the situation of the German forces in the Cotentin became critical: the Cotentin Peninsula was about to be cut in half by the Allies. Facing the threat of being trapped, Hitler allowed General von Schlieben on 17 June 1944 to withdraw to the north to ensure the defense of Cherbourg-en-Contentin and the northern part of the peninsula.On the night of June 17 to 18, the 9th Division reached the Contentin west coast at Barneville-sur-Mer. This time, the peninsula was cut in half, from Quinéville to Barneville. 30,000 German soldiers were now trapped in the area.On 19 June 1944, the defenses of Montebourg were removed, and Valognes was occupied in the evening by the 79th Infantry Division. Cherbourg’s outer defenses were reached by the 4th, 9th, and 79th American divisions. Appointed directly by Hitler as commander of the fortress of Cherbourg, General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben rejected the ultimatum of U.S. General Joseph Lawton Collins on June 22, who asked him to surrender. Following the order of the Führer, von Schlieben intended to defend the port and the city to the last man.The first aerial bombardments were then carried out on the fortified points of the port. Nearly 1,000 planes bombarded the defenses of the city for more than 80 minutes. The three U.S. divisions then advanced through the breaches and destroyed the first German defensive curtain around Cherbourg. For their part, the German side undertook the destruction of the city’s port facilities. The ferry terminal was blown up on the night of June 23 to 24. From 24 to 26 June 1944, the American thrust only intensified: the Fort du Roule, which dominates the city, was reached on June 24 and fell the next day after intense fighting and violent naval artillery fire. Tourlaville and Equeurdreville fell in turn.On June 26, the Americans, guided by the local population, entered Cherbourg. They captured von Schlieben, Admiral Walter Hennecke, and 800 German soldiers. The capture of Cherbourg cost the 7th American Corps 3,000 dead, 3,000 missing, and 13,500 wounded. At the end of the Battle of the Cotentin, with the last surrenders on July 1 at Cap de La Hague, the German forces had lost 11,000 dead and 39,000 prisoners.Cherbourg-en-Contentin became the first French port liberated by the American forces. On 16 July 1944, the first large ships could dock there providing supplies for the Allied advance in the Battle of Normandy.

The Battle of Cherbourg 

The deep-water port of Cherbourg was absolutely vital to the success of the Allied troops on the continent. Possession of the port would enable American ships to navigate directly from the United States to mainland Europe. After the U.S. troops landed on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944, the Germans blocked the road to Cherbourg. Montebourg was conquered after fierce fighting and was almost completely destroyed in the process. The Americans decided to isolate Cherbourg by cutting off the Cotentin peninsula. On 18 June 1944, they reached Barneville on the west coast of the Cotentin. Approximately 40.000 Germans were closed in. Some of them surrendered, but the majority retreated around Cherbourg. The Americans rushed towards the city, where they encountered heavy resistance. Massive bombing by Allied aircraft and warships weakened the German defences. On 26 June, the Americans managed to seize Fort du Roule, an imposing fortification perched on a hill overlooking the harbour. On the same day General von Schlieben surrendered to General Collins. The city was almost intact, but the port facilities were completely destroyed by the Germans. Still, after extensive emergency repairs the first ships were able to use the harbour by late July. The museum located at Fort du Roule reminds us of the occupation and liberation of the Cotentin peninsula, as well as the role played by the port of Cherbourg in the Allied operations. Situated 117 meters above sea level, it offers a breath-taking view of the harbour.

During the summer of 1944 Cherbourg was the most important harbour in the world. For the Allies it was the vital gateway to Europe, indispensable for supplying their campaign in Western Europe. Despite fierce German resistance, U.S. troops seized the city on 26 June 1944. The Liberation Museum reminds us of this dramatic episode.

The deep-water port of Cherbourg was absolutely vital to the success of the Allied troops on the continent. Possession of the port would enable American ships to navigate directly from the United States to mainland Europe.

After the U.S. troops landed on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944, the Germans blocked the road to Cherbourg. Montebourg was conquered after fierce fighting and was almost completely destroyed in the process. The Americans decided to isolate Cherbourg by cutting off the Cotentin peninsula. On 18 June 1944, they reached Barneville on the west coast of the Cotentin. Approximately 40.000 Germans were closed in. Some of them surrendered, but the majority retreated around Cherbourg. The Americans rushed towards the city, where they encountered heavy resistance.

Massive bombing by Allied aircraft and warships weakened the German defences. On 26 June, the Americans managed to seize Fort du Roule, an imposing fortification perched on a hill overlooking the harbour. On the same day General von Schlieben surrendered to General Collins. The city was almost intact, but the port facilities were completely destroyed by the Germans. Still, after extensive emergency repairs the first ships were able to use the harbour by late July.

The museum located at Fort du Roule reminds us of the occupation and liberation of the Cotentin peninsula, as well as the role played by the port of Cherbourg in the Allied operations. Situated 117 meters above sea level, it offers a breath-taking view of the harbour.

The siege of Cherbourg

Photos

Sites and stories along the route

Sergeant William F.Finley

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

Memorial Battle of Normandy

The Battle of Cherbourg

Cherbourg and Liberation Museum

The siege of Cherbourg

Photos

Sites and stories along the route

​​Sergeant William F.Finley​

Naval Bombardment of Cherbourg

Monument of the Martyrs of the Resistance

Memorial Battle of Normandy

The Battle of Cherbourg

Cherbourg and Liberation Museum

Sergeant William F.Finley