reached the Elbe). A prominent researcher, Rémy Desquesnes estimates the overall losses on the Allied side at 500 killed, wounded or prisoners. Surrender After the signing of the overall German surrender in Reims on 7 May 1945, the German command in Saint-Nazaire began negotiations with the French about the surrender of the city, seeking guarantees about the treatment of prisoners and threatening to sabotage the port if a agreement could not be not reached. The signing of the pocket surrender agreement took place in the house of Francis Moisan, at a place called "Les Sables" in Cordemais on 8 May 1945 . The fighting was supposed to end from 00:1 May 9, 1945. The German command however refused to surrender the city to French troops. In the southern sector of the "pocket", hostilities continued until the morning of 11 May 1945. The final surrender ceremony took place at noon that day at the Grand Clos racecourse in Bouvron. During this ceremony, General Hans Junck handed his weapon to the American General Herman Frederick Kramer in the presence of General Chomel, the prefect of Loire-Inférieure, Alexandre Vincent, and French and American detachments. The German command did not give the order for the destruction of port facilities and the sinking of ships remaining in the harbour of Saint-Nazaire. Commemoration A monument in the shape of a Lorraine cross was erected in 1949 in Bouvron to commemorate the signing of the surrender. The Grand Blockhaus of Batz-sur-Mer has housed the museum of the Saint-Nazaire pocket since opening in 1997. See also Liberation of France Battle for Brittany Battle of Brest Battle of Saint-Malo References Bibliography Ganz, A. Harding. "Questionable Objective: The Brittany Ports, 1944." Journal of Military History 59.1 (1995): 77-95. External links Battles of World War II involving the United States Military operations of World War II involving Germany Battles of World War II involving France Encirclements in World War II August 1944 events 1944 in France 1945 in France History of Loire-Atlantique Military history of Brittany