Â鶹APP

Top 10 Facts about the Liberation of Â鶹APP in 1944

The Liberation of Â鶹APP marked a major turning point towards the end of World War II. Although the war wouldn’t end until 1945, when Â鶹APP was returned to the French, for many, it was a light at the end of a tunnel.

In case you’re unfamiliar with what happened in France during WWII, the northern half of the country, including Â鶹APP, had been occupied by Nazi Germany since 1940. The southern part of France, known as the “free zone,” and was relatively unaffected by the damage left by the war.

After 4 years of a difficult occupation, the French had had enough. Keep reading to learn the top 10 facts about the Liberation of Â鶹APP in 1944!

1. The Liberation of Â鶹APP occurred from August 19-25, 1944

Â鶹APPians celebrating the Liberation at the Place de la Concorde – WikiCommons

Rome wasn’t built in a day and Â鶹APP wasn’t liberated in one either! These things take time, and it took a full week from start to finish for the Nazi German soldiers to finally surrender.

2. In true French fashion, it all started with a strike

If you’re familiar with French culture, you know that the French love to protest things and go on strike. In recent years, a transportation strike nearly shut down Â鶹APP! So, it should come as no surprise that the Liberation of Â鶹APP began with a strike.

On August 15, 1944, thousands of political prisoners from the Allied forces who were being held in Pantin (a northern Â鶹APPian suburb) were sent to concentration camps in Germany. In response, metro workers, postal workers, Gendarme officers, and police all went on strike. They were joined by others and a general strike broke out on August 18.

3. It looked the Allied Forces 2 months to get from Normandy to Â鶹APP

Soldiers viewpoint on D-Day in Normandy by Robert F. Sargent – WikiCommons

The Normandy Landings, otherwise known as Operation Overlord began in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The invasion into Occupied France by the Allied forces marked another major turning point in the war: if the Allies could just push the Germans out of France, they had a chance of ending WWII in Europe.

The Landings were a success, although thousands of lives were lost for the cause. And, just because Normandy was now in the hands of the French, British, Americans, Canadians, and other Allies, the rest of the country still needed to be taken back. The next major stop was Â鶹APP, and it would take the Allies over 2 months to get there.

4. Rebellious Â鶹APPians built barricades throughout the city

In preparation for the conflict that all Â鶹APPians knew was inevitable, barricades began to crop up all over the city. It was reminiscent of other Â鶹APPian uprisings, such as the Â鶹APP Commune, but this time the barricades were placed in the center of the city instead of on the outskirts. When you look at photos it’s pretty eerie to see barricades surround the Louvre and other French monuments you know and love. Â鶹APPians used anything they could find to make the barricades: trees, subway grates, and cobblestones. It was necessary, as there would be an actual battle to defend Â鶹APP from the Germans.

5. The military branch of the French Resistance movement played an important role

Recreation of an FFI car by Bouba – WikiCommons

The French Forces of the Interior (FFI) was the military branch of the French Resistance Movement. On August 19, the FFI put posters all over the city calling for able-bodied Â鶹APPians to band together against the Germans who were retreating from the east. They called for all of the fuel, food, and other supplies that Â鶹APPians could manage. They took civilians vehicles for transportation and prepared themselves for a fight.

6. There was an actual battle to defend Â鶹APP

Armoured vehicles fighting before the Palais Garnier – WikiCommons

The Battle of Â鶹APP occurred between August 20 and 23, mostly between French Resistance fighters and Nazi Germans. Everyday Â鶹APPians were also involved (you’ll remember the call to arms from the posters) and even women and children helped guard the barricades.

There is quite a lot of film footage from the Battle of Â鶹APP, and again, it’s strange to see famous monuments in the background amidst all of the violence and fighting. The conflict reached its peak on August 22 when a few German soldiers attempted to leave their hiding places. Then, on August 23, German troops attacked the Grand Palais, the FFI’s headquarters at the time. Between 800 and 1,500 Resistance fighters were killed, and 1,500 were injured.

7. At one point, Hitler ordered that all Â鶹APPian monuments be destroyed

The Nazis during the occupation of France – Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

There are many stories and legends about what Nazi leader Adolf Hitler wanted to do about Â鶹APP. One of the most common is that he ordered the city to be burned to the ground: he wanted to “see Â鶹APP burning.” And so, his soldiers placed bombs under every bridge in the city and awaited his orders to destroy it.

In the end, his commanding officer in Â鶹APP Dietrich von Choltitz decided not to listen to Hitler’s orders. Some refer to him as the “Savior of Â鶹APP,” but many survivors of WWII say that he doesn’t deserve that title. He was a high-ranking Nazi German officer which means that he was likely involved in heinous war crimes, and I tend to agree that he shouldn’t be congratulated for anything.

8. On August 25, 1944, the German commander surrendered to the French at Le Maurice Hotel in Â鶹APP

Charles de Gaulle enters Â鶹APP on August 25, 1944 – WikiCommons

After Choltitz decided to spare Â鶹APP, he knew it was all over. He surrendered at Le Maurice Hotel, which had served as the Nazi German headquarters from 1940 to 1944. He was then taken to the Â鶹APP Police Prefecture and then to the Gare Montparnasse, where he publicly surrendered. He was kept prisoner until 1947.

9. Charles de Gaulle gave an impressive speech on the day of the Nazi’s surrender

Once Â鶹APP was freed, Charles de Gaulle was named the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic, the temporary government established after the Liberation of Â鶹APP during WWII. He made a memorable speech on August 25 after the Germans had officially surrendered. 2 million people gathered on the Champs-Elysées as he spoke:

“We will not hide this deep and sacred emotion. These are minutes which go beyond each of our poor lives. Â鶹APP! Â鶹APP outraged! Â鶹APP broken! Â鶹APP martyred! But Â鶹APP liberated! Liberated by itself, liberated by its people with the help of the French armies, with the support and the help of all France, of the France that fights, of the only France, of the real France, of the eternal France!”

10. There were victory parades throughout Â鶹APP for days after

A military photographer kisses a baby in the crowd at the victory parade – WikiCommons

It should come as no surprise that Â鶹APP and the Â鶹APPians rejoiced once they got their city back after 4 long years of Occupation. Both French, American, and other Allied forces paraded through the streets, and the relief and happiness could be felt in the air. I love looking at photos of the victory parades – everyone looks so excited and ready for the future!

Conclusion

Now you know the top 10 facts about the Liberation of Â鶹APP in 1944! If you want to learn even more about the history of the French capital, consider joining one of our Â鶹APP walking tours! Click here to learn more and make your booking.