Paris 1940 & 1944

[4th wilts]

monty had already ordered allied army commanders to disregard army boundaries,that is clear.so am i the only one here to put my neck on the block or what.yours,lee.

[von Poop]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Can we take this debate to a Falaise Pocket thread please and leave this one to Paris itself.
Thank You.

.

[Owen]

From History of 7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry.
September 1944 after Seine crossing fighting was over.

A number of men were lucky enough to get day trips to liberated Paris, where they were among the first British troops to be seen, and were given a great reception. It was strange, coming straight from the battlefields , to be in a great and busy capital city, among famous buildings and lovely gardens, gay boulevards , and pretty women; to be able to drink in a cafe, to walk the thick pile carpets of the Galeries Lafayette, choosing powder and perfume , and trying to look wise over the purchase of flimsey silken knick-knacks and fine silk stockings (at fine prices) to be sent home to war-weary England.

Sound heavenly after Normandy.

[GrossBorn]

Reading this thread got me thinking that I have never read a good history of Paris during German occupation (1940-1944). Can any forum members recommend a good book that covers this time period?

[Harry Ree]

Regarding the surrender of Paris, it was accepted by the Allied Powers through De Gaulle's insistence that the French as represented by Leclerc heading the French 2nd Armoured Division would take Choltitz's formal surrender of German forces in Paris. Henri Tanguy (Col Rol) the communist resistance leader who had other ideas, planned and executed the insurrection contrary to De Gaulles wishes, not that the communists took much notice of De Gaulle.Tanquy having driven the insurrection intended to take the surrender of Paris as the representative of the French people.De Gaulle, with an eye on the future of France's post war political balance was anxious to avoid the surrender of Paris falling to the communists.Hence there was a mad dash by Leclerc to get into Paris and take the formal surrender.As it was Tanguy got his name on the surrender document much to the disappointment of De Gaulle who later gave Lerclerc a dressing down.

De Gaulle had his own agenda for the future of France and the elimination of foreign influence was part of that policy.For instance, when south west France was liberated, he met British SOE personnel in Bordeaux and gave them days to leave the country.Their task was over and he would be directing the future of France.

Regarding the FFI,this organisation was part of De Gaulles interior forces forged when Moulin before his death at the hands of the Germans had structured the various facets of resistance to De Gaulle's overall unified plan under the Conseil National de la Resistance.The FTP, the Franc-Tireur Partisan, largely communist led and the communists themselves saw themselves and wished to be, for the future of French politics, of being outside any alliance to De Gaulle.It was the British SOE leadership in the field who strived to organise and co-ordinate the resistance activities of these irregular groups.Some success was achieved as SOE personnel leadership demonstated their clandestine skills in underground warfare with these irregular units. Some FTP were happy to don the FFI armband when the secret armies came out into open warfare, the others who had long standing communist views did not.

[Slipdigit]

Originally Posted by GrossBorn

Reading this thread got me thinking that I have never read a good history of Paris during German occupation (1940-1944). Can any forum members recommend a good book that covers this time period?

Is Paris Burning? by Cornelius Ryan, if you can find it. Avoid the movie of the same name.

Before reading it though many, many years ago, I thought ill of the French for not "following the plan" and driving on into Paris. I understood after reading it why DeGaulle ordered Leclerc on in and agreed with the decision.

[Arsenal vg-33]

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

Is Paris Burning? by Cornelius Ryan, if you can find it. Avoid the movie of the same name.

Before reading it though many, many years ago, I thought ill of the French for not "following the plan" and driving on into Paris. I understood after reading it why DeGaulle ordered Leclerc on in and agreed with the decision.

One slight correction: "Is Paris Burning?" is co-written by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre.

The book is very well done, if a bit romanticized, but then much WW 2 history written at the time was a bit romanticized. Still a good read and an excellent reference to use while strolling through Paris looking for battle scars.

As Slipdigit said, the movie is to be avoided - Not very good. There have been rumors of a remake, which would be nice.

[Slipdigit]

Now that you mention it, it does seem that he was writing it as he was dying of cancer and they finished/rewrote or something along those lines. I remember that his name was all over my copy of it.

[4th wilts]

yes,films by most do not accurately depict war very well imo,except perhaps das boot with subtitles.4th wilts.