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THE
LIBERATION OF PARIS
22-26 of August, 1944 |
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Crowds
of French patriots line the Champs
Elysees to view Allied tanks and half
tracks pass through
the Arc de Triomphe, after Paris was
liberated on August 25, 1944.
Photographer:
Jack Downey. Washington,
Library of Congress
Ann Ronan Picture Library collection
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On
August 26, 1944, the Allied forces enter
Paris, putting an end to the Battle of
Paris and liberating the city from the
German occupation which lasted 4 years.
However the liberation of Paris wasn't a
major objective for General Eisenhower,
who wanted to reach Berlin first. But
General De Gaulle convinced him that
Paris was a symbol: on August 26, he
triumphantly enters the city, putting an
end to the World War II and
nazism.
'Paris
outraged, Paris broken, Paris martyred,
but Paris liberated!'
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| The
Battle of Paris |
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On
August 19, Colonel Rol,
commander in chief of
the French Forces of the
Interior (FFI), calls
the Parisians to resist
and fight against German
divisions in Paris.
Spontaneously, Parisians
erect barricades to slow
down the German
progression: the city is
in state of siege during
6 days.
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| The
German surrender |
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After
the signature of the act of
surrender by General Von
Choltitz, German officers and
troops are arrested all around
the city.
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| 'Legal'
purge |
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Before
official trials were
established, the post-liberation
purge known as the Epuration
légale in French, concerned all
presumed collaborator. Among the
hunted ones, many women were
accused of 'horizontal
collaboration'. They had their
heads shaved and publicly
exhibited , some were even
mauled by mobs, eager for
revenge.
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