Wrecked German fort in liberated Cherbourg. This German fort, shattered by U.S.

Wrecked German fort in liberated Cherbourg. This German fort, shattered by U.S. aerial bombardment and artillery fire, was one of the last in Cherbourg to surrender to the overwhelming force of the American drive on the French deep-water port which, by July 1, 1944, had been cleared of all enemy resistance. U.S. forces swept aside all enemy installations along the Cotentin Peninsula and the Germans, despite every effort, were unable to uphold Hitler's promise that: "No power in the world could succeed in breaking through this most gigantic defense zone of all time (the Atlantic Wall along the Western European coast)."