 Caen, a major objective, was still in German hands at the end of D-Day and would not be completely captured until 21 July.Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on 6 June, and more than two million Allied troops were in France by the end of August.In the western part of the lodgement, US troops were to occupy the Cotentin Peninsula, especially Cherbourg, which would provide the Allies with a deep water harbour.