When an ultimatum calling for the surrender of the German forces defending Cherbourg
was ignored, the assault on the fortifications was renewed with attacks by hundreds of medium
and fighter bombers and the methodical reduction of the defenses by the ground troops. Naval
gunfire joined field artillery fires and air attacks in supporting the advance into the city itself, and
on June 27th the last resistance was eliminated.
Then turning its attention to the northwest, the 9th Infantry Division pushed the only
remaining enemy forces into the Cap de la Hague area, where long range enemy guns were still
firing. Resistance was stubborn, but it was a hopeless battle for the isolated enemy, and on July
1st the campaign ended with their surrender.
Thus closed the first campaign of the VII Corps, a campaign studded with success, in
which a beachhead had been secured, a vital port had been seized, and practically the entire
garrison of a key enemy coastal bastion had been captured or destroyed. A total of over 39,000
prisoners were taken by VII Corps units in this operation, against the cost of 2,800 Americans
killed, 13,500 wounded, and 5,700 captured or missing. Most important of all, the way was now
clear for an unlimited drive into the enemy's vital inland areas.
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