June 27

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
Truman orders U.S. forces to Korea, 1950
American Revolution
Schuyler dispatched to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 1775
Automotive
Route 66 decertified, 1985
Civil War
Confederate and Union forces clash at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, 1864
Cold War
U.N. approves armed force to repel North Korea, 1950
Crime
Four-time thief escapes Baumes law, 1921
Disaster
Ebola breaks out in Sudan, 1976
General Interest
Smithson's curious bequest, 1829
Mormon leader killed by mob, 1844
First Newbery Medal for children's literature, 1922
Hollywood
“Frankly, My Dear…”, 1939
Literary
Alice McDermott's birthday, 1953
Music
Elvis Presley tapes his famous TV "comeback special", 1968
Old West
Buffalo hunters and Indians clash at Adobe Walls, 1874
Presidential
JFK visits Ireland, 1963
Sports
Tyson knocks out Spinks, 1988
Vietnam War
Kennedy appoints Lodge as ambassador, 1963
U.S. forces begin to evacuate Khe Sanh, 1968
World War I
Colonel House meets with British foreign secretary in London, 1914
World War II
Germans get Enigma, 1940
U.S. troops liberate Cherbourg, France, 1944

World War II

Jun 27, 1944:

U.S. troops liberate Cherbourg, France

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On this day in 1944, the Allies capture the fortified town and port of Cherbourg, in northwest France, freeing it from German occupation. Hitler had for all intents and purposes anticipated his own defeat when, in contrast with the analysis of his advisers, he accurately predicted that the D-Day invasion would be focused on Normandy. He knew the Allies needed to take a large port-and Cherbourg fit the bill. (The Brits had actually handpicked Cherbourg as the target for a "Cross-Channel" landing back in 1942.) Once the Allies actually landed on Normandy beaches June 6, the fall of Cherbourg was only a matter of time.

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This Week in History, Jun 27 - Jul 3

Jun 27, 1940
Germans get Enigma
Jun 27, 1944
U.S. troops liberate Cherbourg, France
Jun 28, 1940
Britain recognizes General Charles de Gaulle as the leader of the Free French
Jun 29, 1941
Germans capture Lvov—and slaughter ensues
Jun 30, 1943
Operation Cartwheel is launched
Jul 01, 1942
The Battle of El Alamein begins
Jul 02, 1944
American bombers deluge Budapest, in more ways than one
Jul 03, 1940
Operation Catapult is launched

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