Following the Normandy landings in June 1944, and subsequent breakout, Lorient was surrounded by the Allies on 12 August 1944. Its usefulness as a naval base gone, Lorient was left in a state of siege, surrounded by the American Army. On 10 May 1945, the German garrison surrendered, two days after the official final unconditional surrender of Germany. In 1949, the city of Lorient was awarded the Legion of Honour and the "Croix de guerre 1939–1945".