U.S. soldiers pray after surrender of Cherbourg.

U.S. soldiers pray after surrender of Cherbourg. In a field outside Cherbourg, American soldiers kneel in prayer as they receive Holy Communion after the Germans surrendered the city June 27, 1944. Announcing the surrender, Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, Commander of U.S. ground forces in France, declared: "It is a pleasure to be able to say to the people of France, 'Here is your first large city to be returned to you." Less than 12 hours after the liberation, the city was turned over by the Americans to M. Paul Reynaud, the Mayor of Cherbourg.