On June 3, Hitler allowed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring to retreat with his forces from Rome. On June 4, American forces entered the city, and occupied it with no need to destroy it in bombardments. American General Mark Clark described the scene: "There were gay crowds in the streets, many of them waving flags, as our infantry marched through the capital. Flowers were stuck in the muzzles of the soldiers’ rifles and of guns on the tanks. Many Romans seemed to be on the verge of hysteria in their enthusiasm for the American troops." 
 The fall of Rome heralded the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. Two days after Rome was occupied, Eisenhower’s forces landed at Normandy and breached Hitler’s stronghold through the front door.