A captured German officer smiles as he is interrogated by American soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy, France on June 12, 1944. 

Happy captive

On 16 September 1944, German Major General Botho Henning Elster and his 18 850 men and 754 officers surrendered to Major General Robert C. Macon of the U.S.  83rd Infantry Division at the Loire bridge of Beaugency, France.

Surrender

Soldiers of the 35th Infantry Division survey the situation near a disabled German self-propelled anti-aircraft Flakpanzer 38 (Panzerkampfwagen 38) in the French town of Tessy sur Vire (Normandy).