In Cherbourg the battle enters its decisive phase. Shells are raining down on the naval harbor. Flames are soon seen coming from the large area occupied by sheds and depots. Thick palls of smoke show where the heaviest explosions have occurred. The fusilier regiment is ordered to start occupying the town without waiting for the bombardment to end. When the entire harbor is hidden from view, Rommel concentrates his aim on the Querqueville Fortress, hoping this will encourage the garrison to surrender.

Meanwhile, M. Vaur and his deputy are making representations to the military authorities. At about 2pm Vice-Adm Le Bigot, Port-Admiral of the 1st District and governor of Cherbourg, considers that his 3 main objectives have been achieved:

• (a) Protection of the complete embarkation of British forces;
• (b) Use of all available shipping for the evacuation of non-combatants;
• (c) Destruction of all equipment of any possible use to the enemy.

Furthermore, the garrison is on the point of running out of ammunition. He therefore decides that there is nothing to prevent him from capitulating. He sends a delegation of naval officers to Rommel's command post in the Les Couplets redoubt. The formalities are soon concluded.

'I called on the garrison in each fort to hoist a white flag in token of surrender,' writes Rommel, 'and then march off along the road from Cherbourg to Les Pieux. The NCOs were to take charge of the column. The officers were to assemble at the Port-Admiral's office. All weapons were to be unloaded and stacked inside the forts.'

The official surrender takes place in the Port-Admiral's office at 5pm.

'Thus ended the capitulation of Cherbourg,' notes Rommel. 'All accessible forts on dry land had in the meantime been occupied by our troops. The clearing-up of the town and forts began at once.'

Immediately after capturing Cherbourg, Rommel writes to his wife:

June 20, 1940

I don't know whether that is the right date; I've rather lost track of time these last few days.

The division carried out the attack on Cherbourg in a single thrust, covering a distance of 220 to 230 miles, and took the powerful fortress in spite of fierce resistance. There were a few bad moments for us, and to begin with the enemy outnumbered us by 20 or 40 to 1. In addition there were between 20 and 35 forts in fighting trim and a large number of isolated batteries. However, by keeping on the move, we managed to comply with the Führer's special order that Cherbourg should be captured at the earliest possible moment.

In Brittany the tanks of Hoth's Panzer Corps are on the outskirts of Lorient and Morlaix. They are striking swiftly towards Brest, which they will enter about 7pm.

In the Lower Loire sector, Nantes, earlier declared an open town, has not been defended. The Germans are establishing a bridgehead on the left bank of the river. Sensing that there is not a moment to be lost, Commandant Ronarc'h decides to weigh anchor at 3am so that the Jean Bart will be in the Loire channel at high tide. The ship has been attacked three times from the air in the Channel and hit once by a bomb which failed to pentrate the steel deck. The battleship gets out of the port, fuels at sea, repairs a dangerous breakdown and finally reaches Casablanca.

In Saumur, where the Germans had been marking time for 48 hours, there are violent clashes. The young cadets at the Cavalry School, still under instruction prior to being sent to the firing line, do not mean to allow the establishment to be captured without a fight. They had heard on the radio, two days before, that France will soon have to lay down arms. 'The words coursed through us like fire-water,' one of them writes later. 'We had made up our minds to fight all the same, while the armistice was unsigned, purely for the sake of honor.

'At the prompting of a keen officer, Col Michon, the school - comprising 2,200 men - was to defend the Loire from Montsoreau bridge to Gennes bridge, a front of 15 miles. It was armed only with training weapons... But every one of those youngsters was filled with firm resolve and manly courage.'

For two whole days, June 19th and 20th, they fight with the frenzy of despairing youth. For two whole days they hold the German forces on the Saumur bridges. Then ammunition runs out and their stand is broken. The flow of panzers finally clear the Loire.

Within the Loire loop the Germans reach the Cher at Vierzon and Romorantin. Another column enters Bourges. Farther eastward, after vainly attempting to blast out the holding-force at Moulins, the German columns take Vichy and Roanne and continue their advance toward Saint Étienne.

In the Saône valley the German forces outflank Lyons from the west. By afternoon, light elements are thrusting their way into the southern end of the town.

In Lorraine and the Vosges mountains the Eastern Group of Armies is attacked along the line of the passes and confronted by powerful tank thrusts toward Lure and Luxeuil. The French make a fine stand, but they are running short of ammunition.

Meanwhile, to escape the double threat of encirclement resulting from the forcing of the Lower Loire and from the Germans' deep encroachment via the Upper Loire and the Allier, the French High Command instructs its armies to continue their retreat southward, making use of the Vienne, the Charente and the Dordogne.

In the afternoon the Luftwaffe bombs Poitiers just as the café radios are relaying these words of M. Pomaret's: 'Listen carefully! I assure you that you are quite safe!'

The railway station is flattened. Two trains packed with refugees have been standing at the platforms. As a result of unforgiveable negligence they had been halted beside an ammunition train. The ammunition train blows up creating an enormous death toll.

The Luftwaffe also bombs Bordeaux during the night, killing 63 and wounding 80. This raid causes grave disturbance among the civilian population.