Top 10 Facts About The Liberation Of Paris In 1944

Photo courtesy of Jack Downey. Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Facts about The Liberation of Paris in 1944

The liberation of Paris in 1944 involved the military battle that took place on 19^th August 1944. The battle was fought for six days which led to the surrender of the Nazi troops after the triumph and return of General Charles De Gaulle. Nazi Germany had occupied Paris since June 1940 following the signing of the Second Compiegne Armistice and they occupied the western and northern of France.

The French resistance began on the 15^th of August 1944 with soldiers carrying out strikes. At the time, Adolf Hitler who was a German dictator had ordered the military to destroy the city of Paris. However, they were aware of Paris’s rich culture and history which and they were keen and hesitant not to risk its destruction.

When General Charles De Gaulle learned of the French Resistance and the rise of the Germans, he was unwilling to allow the slaughter of his countrymen. He took action to liberate Paris by bypassing the chain of command and ordering an attack on the German forces in Paris.

Below are the top 10 facts about the Liberation of Paris in 1944

1. The Liberation Started with a 4 Days Strike

During the war. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons

The liberation of Paris in 1944, began with a strike which began from the 15^th to 19^thAugust 1944. The strike began with the strike from employees of the Paris Metro, the Gendarmerie and the police also joined the strike.

The strike was soon joined by other workers within the city. This led to a general strike which broke out on the 18^th of August 1944. The strike became so intense and as a result, fights erupted with over three thousand police invading the Prefecture de Police which was the first building to be liberated on 19^th August.

2. The Metro Station Bastille was Turned into a Hospital

The intense strike eventually led to a war between Paris city police and the German soldiers led by Adolf Hitler. As a result of the war in efforts to liberate Paris from the 19^th of August 1944, there were casualties of war that needed major attention. This saw the Metro Station Bastille turned into a hospital to help manage the loss of lives. With the help of volunteers, the red cross played an active role in setting up the facilities, and nurses helped the injured fighters during the four days of fighting.

3. Part of Paris was Saved by a German Commander

Some part of Paris was saved from destruction by a German Commander, General Von Choltitz. He worked under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. The commander was ordered by Hitler to blow up the monuments in the capital. However, the general disobeyed the orders and helped spare some of the outstanding historic and cultural heritage of the city.

4. Women Who Had Relationships with German Soldiers Were Publicly Shaved

Women paraded. Photo by Bundesarchiv. Wikimedia commons

More than twenty thousand women had their heads shaved after the liberation. The women were said to have had a relationship with the German soldiers and therefore they were publicly shaved. This was demonstrated as a sign to purify Paris. The women were lined up in the streets and humiliated as part of purification. Others were accused of spying and working for German soldiers and were condemned to death.

5. Parisians Built Several Barricades to Defend against German Forces

To defend Paris against the German forces, Parisians built more than six hundred barricades. They were mostly set up at the center of the city and not in the eastern of the city which was occupied by a majority of the working class. However, the barricades did not offer so much resistance since the Germans had sophisticated military equipment. Nevertheless, the barricades managed to hold until the allied troops made their way into the capital.

6. Parisian Allies Were Delayed by Poor Roads and Combat

Allies entered Paris on 24^th August 1944 following a delay caused by the poor roads and combat. The allies led by French General Leclerc who was the commander of the second French Armored Division made their way into Paris equipped with American trucks, and M4 Sherman tanks in the defense of Paris.

With the support of the allies, the Parisians made a move on the German troops. Fights erupted with the 2^nd Armored Division suffering a blow with two hundred and twenty-five soldiers wounded and seventy-one killed. The division also suffered losses of tanks, guns, and vehicles.

7. General De Gaulle made a Victory Speech after The Liberation

General de Gaulle. Author is unknown. Wikimedia commons

On the 25^th of August 1944, General Charles De Gaulle made a rousing speech after the victory and surrender of the German soldiers. He was the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic. He made the speech from the Hotel de Ville where crowds were gathered and celebrating victory.

8. German Surrendered on the 25^th of August 1944

On the 25^th of August 1944, Choltitz the commander of the German garrison and military governor of Paris, finally surrender. This meant the triumph of Parisians and the end of German dominion in Paris.

The commander signed the official surrender at the Paris Police Prefecture and then was moved to Gare Montparnasse train station where he signed the surrender of German troops in Paris. The surrender came after constant orders from Adolf Hitler that the French capital must be destroyed rather than fall into the hands of the enemy.

9. The German Commander, Choltitz was apprehended and Imprisoned

After the defeat and surrender of the German military, the commander, Choltitz was finally apprehended. He was imprisoned for three years and was later released on April 1947. In his bibliography published in 1950, he claimed that he was the savior of Paris. However, some historians decline the credit and argue that he had lost control to destroy the city and therefore, he was unable to accomplish Hitler’s orders.

10. Few German Snipers were still Active during the Victory Parade

Victory parade. Photo by courtesy of Wikimedia commons

Even after the liberation and surrender of German soldiers, a few snipers were still active and often distrusted the Victory parade. During the parade, General Charles de Gaulle marched with his troops through the Champs-Elysees and they were distracted by a sniper who fired and caused panic in the crowd. The snipper was hiding on the roofs of the surrounding buildings.

The liberation of Paris in 1944 was marked by several occurrences which lasted for five days. The victory was celebrated as the German soldiers surrendered.