Figure 1.-- Joyous crowds greeted the Armée de la Libération and the Americans as liberators, as their vehicles drove down the city streets. Jubilent crowds cheered the American and Free French forces. Here a nun and French school girls cheer their liberators. Photographer: Robert Capa.

The Allies conducted an emense victory parade down the Champs-Élysées the day after the German surrender (August 26). A few die-hard German snipers were still firing. General de Gaulle famously marched down the Champs Élysées and entered the Place de la Concorde. Diehard German snipers who refused to surrender in the Hôtel de Crillon area fired on the crowd. DeGualle marched on to Notre Dame. The Luftwaffe managed to stage a small raid on the city (August 26). Allied troops to the east began crossing the Seine. DeGualle as military ruler of Paris requested that General Eisenhower permit two American division remain in Paris to help maintain order. Eisenhower reached Paris (August 27). He was not prepared to shift two divisions away from persuing the Germans north. He did agree to a demonstration of force. He ordered the American 28th Infantry Division to move through the center of the city (August 29). A combined Franco-American military parade was thus staged around the arrival of the U.S. Army's 28th Infantry Division. The 28th Infantry Division in full comat gear marched through the city center (August 29). They were not parade ground troops, but men headed north to persue the fleeing Germans north. Eisenhower wrote later "Because this ceremonial march coincided exactly with the local battle plan it became possibly the only instance in history of troops marching in parade through the capital of a great country to participate in pitched battle on the same day." [Eisenhower] General Bradley stood by de Gaulle on the review stand during the victory parades to symbolize American contributions to the liberation of France. Joyous crowds greeted the Armée de la Libération and the Americans as liberators, as their vehicles drove down the city streets. Jubilent crowds cheered the American and Free French forces.

FFI Uprising (August 19)

The Resistance in France followed the advance of allied forces after the breakout from Normandy (July 25-26). Within in only weeks, the Allies had rapidly moved north and were nearing the Seine. and had lnded in Southern France. The Communists in prticulr wanted to frise aginst the Germans. The barricades began going up (August 18). The FFI rose against the Germans (August 19). The seized the police station and other important Paris locations. They did not, however, have heavy weapons and stockpiles of aminition. After the firt day, the FFI began running out of amunition abd began issuing ples for the Allies to move into Paris. Raoul Nordling, the Swedish Consul-General went to General Dietrich Choltitz, military Commander of Paris, with a proposal to barter 600 Germans captured by the Resistance for 4,213 French prisoners held by the Germans in Paris area. A showpiece exchange followed. One source suggests that Choltitz wanted to impress OKW in Berlin. Meanwhile, advance American troops had began to reach the Seine. This was important, because ince the americans crised the seine, the Germans in oarus woukd soon be cut off.

Destroying Paris (August 20)

German Military Governor Gen. Von Choltitz was peronally chose by Hitler because base on his military record, he would follow his specific orders to destroy Paris rather than allow it to fall into Allied hands -- Trümmerfeldbefehl. Understanding there was no military value in destroying Paris. He chos not to destroy the city. He refused to surrender to the reistance, but began evacuating the city so as few German soldirs woukd be there when the Allies arrived. Allied inteligengence noted the German withdrawl. He remained in Paris knowing that he would be executed if he returned to Germany becuse he defined Hitler's orders. Charges had been placed at all mjor Paris landmarks. One word from Von Choltitz and Paris would have been demolished. The US 79th Division reached Seine above Paris.

American Advance (August 21)

The US Third Army commanded by Gen. George Patton reached Troyes southeast of Paris and just south if the Seine (August 21). his was important because it meant that the highly motirized Third Army would be across the Seine in days. This not only meant that Paris would soon be cut off, but the Third Army was about to cross the last barrier betweem the advancing Americans and the Reich. The Germans were fevoriously moving the troops streaming in from France to positions on along the West Wall.

Eisenhower Changes His Mind (Augut 22)

General Eisenhower had not wanted to divert combat troops to Paris, but the Resistance uprising in Pris forced his hand. DeGualle demanded the Allies head for Paris. Rather than allow a break in the chain of command, Eisenhower gave in and ordered Gen Bradely to direct the drive on Paris. The honor was given to Gen. Lecleric's Free French 2nd Armored Division to drive on Paris, but American troops also moved on Paris. Eisenhower arrived at Bradley's headquarters to discuss the logistics. Bradly was the American ground 12th Army Group commander and thus would issue the necessary orders.

Drive on Paris (August 23)

Allied troops reached the Seine River near Paris. Hitler from Berlin ordered all bridges in the Paris area to be destroyed, including those viewed as cultural treasures. Hans Speidel on Rommels staff, and one of the few July Bomb plotters to survivete war, refused to carry out this order.

First Allied Troops (August 24)

Elements of the US Army 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron moved ahead of the slower-moving French tanks (August 23). They reached the outskirts of Paris (evening of August 24). They eliminated the light German resistance. They then stood aside for the Free French to enter Paris. Gen. Lecleric's Division had been delayed by German resistance and poor roads. He ignored orders from his direct superior, American field commander Major General Leonard T. Gerow, and ordered the creation of a flying collumn (the colonne Dronne) to drive on Paris. They were given a message that the entire division would be there within a day. The 9th Armored Company, composed mainly of veterans of the Spanish Civil War and fully equipped by the American: M4 Sherman tanks, M2 half-tracks, and General Motors Company trucks. They were commanded by Captain Raymond Dronne. He would become the first uniformed Allied officer to enter Paris.

Free French Enter Paris (August 25)

The Free French 2nd Armored Division entered Paris at dawn (August 25). Given American iniforms abd equipment. the first Parisians to see them hought that they were Americans. Just behind the French were th American 12th Infantry Regiment. The americans reachd Notre Dame (0830). Allied troops were gathered at the Arc de Triomphe (1530). The US Army 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron which entered the city ahead of the 12th Infantry Regiment reported, that the men "received uninhibited and enthusiastic greetings of the Parisienes and Parisiennes,... Morale was never higher." General von Choltitz surrendered to Gen. Leclerc. De Gaulle moved his headquarters into the War Ministry with the approval of Gen. Eisenhower.

First Parade (August 26)

The French conducted an emense victory parade down the Champs-Élysées the day after the German surrender (August 26). A few die-hard German snipers were still firing. General de Gaulle famously marched down the Champs Élysées and entered the Place de la Concorde. Die-hard German snipers who refused to surrender in the Hôtel de Crillon area fired on the crowd. DeGualle marched on to Notre Dame. De Gaulle and made a public speech from the Hôtel de Ville, politically legitimizing his claims as the liberator of France. It was broacast all over France, the French people in the areas yet to be liberated heard his stirring words:

"Why should we try to hide our emotion which we all of us here, men and women, feel? We are back home in Paris which is on its feet to liberate itself and which has been able to achieve it singlehanded. No, we should not try to conceal this profound and sacred emotion. We are living through moments which transcend each of our poor lives.

Paris! Outraged Paris! Broken Paris! Martyred Paris, but liberated Paris! Liberated by the people of Paris with help from the armies of France, with the help and support of the whole of France, of France which is fighting, of the only France, the real France, eternal France. [Note there is no mebtion of the Americans abd British, not to mention the Candians and Poles.]

Because the enemy which held Paris has capitulated to us France goes home to Paris. She goes home bloody but very resolute. She goes home wiser from the tremendous lesson she has learned, but more sure than ever before of her duties and her rights.

I put duties first and I would include them all if, at the moment, I said her warlike duties. The enemy totters but is not yet beaten. He remains on our soil. It would not even be enough, after what has happened, if with the help of our dear and admirable allies we chased him out of our country. We want to go to his country as we should, as conquerors. This is why the French advance guard reached Paris with cannon shots. This is why a great French army from Italy landed in the South and is advancing rapidly up the Rhone valley. This is why our courageous and dear Forces of the Interior are going to be armed with modern weapons. It is for revenge for revenge and justice that we shall continue to fight to the last day until the day when victory is total and complete. All the men who are here today and all who hear me elsewhere in France know that this warlike duty demands national unity.

In the present situation the nation would not allow national unity to be disrupted. The nation well knows that to conquer, to reconstruct and to be great all Frenchmen are needed. The nation well knows that the sons and daughters of France - all the sons and daughters except for a few unhappy traitors who gave themselves over to the enemy and who are tasting or will taste the rigours of the law - yes! All the sons and daughters of France must march towards France's goal, fraternally and hand in hand.

Vive la France!"

Eisenhower Reaches Paris (August 27)

Eisenhower reached Paris (August 27). He was not prepared to shift two divisions away from pursuing the Germans north. He did agree to a demonstration of force tht would be in accord with the military priority of pursuing the Gernans north.

American 28th Division: Victory Parade (August 29)

Eisenhower ordered the American 28th Infantry Division to move through the center of the city (August 29). A combined Franco-American military parade was thus staged around the arrival of the U.S. Army's 28th Infantry Division. This would be the celevration that wa so widely photgraphed. The fall of Pris had shocked the world (June 1940) and more than any other event symolized the NAZI th=reat to the Wstern democcies. Now the liberation of Paris meant that the NAZI star had sclispsed and the German defeat was just a matter of time. The 28th Infantry Division in marched through the city center (August 29). They were not spit-and polish parade ground troops, but men in full combat gear headed north to pursue the fleeing Germans north. Eisenhower wrote later "Because this ceremonial march coincided exactly with the local battle plan it became possibly the only instance in history of troops marching in parade through the capital of a great country to participate in pitched battle on the same day." [Eisenhower] General Bradley stood by de Gaulle on the review stand during the victory parades to symbolize American contributions to the liberation of France. Joyous crowds greeted the Armée de la Libération and the Americans as liberators, as their vehicles drove down the city streets. Jubilent crowds cheered the American and Free French forces.

Sources

Eisenhower, Dwight. Crusade in Europe: Steeds of Steel.

Created: 6:46 AM 4/30/2011
Last updated: 6:06 AM 6/20/2015