Paris 1940 & 1944

Discussion in 'France' started by Owen, Feb 23, 2007.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Attached Files:

    dbf likes this.
  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    One of the best shots I saw was in a collection of a friend of mine who tooks the shots when he entered Paris after its fall in August 1944.He was in the RAF in what was to come the 2nd Tactical Air Force.They left Ipswich, I think it was on D Day +1 to land in the Normandy beachhead to construct and man landing strips.

    As I say he entered a free Paris and took a shot of Resistance propaganda which had been painted on a long wall.On it, in French was in large white lettering which translated to English as 'Germany like Carthage will fall' Quite inspiring to the Parisians and the forecasting of the oncoming doom of the Third Reich to the German occupiers.

    The shot may have appeared on the newsreels of the time but I cannot recollect seeing it.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    [​IMG]

    1940 Germans marching down the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

    [​IMG]

    1944
    Liberation of Paris: In the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe, two soldiers of the 2nd French Armoured Division shoot at German snipers and pro-German French militia who were making an abortive attempt to free German prisoners. The latter lie dead on the Champs Elysees.


    [​IMG]

    An AFPU jeep displaying a large union flag drives down the Champs Elysees in Paris, 26 August 1944.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Had to post this one from the gallery.
    http://www.ww2talk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3015
    German Krupp Protze by the Obelisk, Place de la Concord.

    Haven't got a photo but 1944 image is of this, from 43rd Wessex Div History.
    Last time I was there myself I could "see" those Tommies brewing up.
    Great isn't it, visit a city like Paris and what do I think of ?
     
  5. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    [​IMG]

    The Second World War 1939-1945: Hitler standing at the Trocadero, Paris, with the Pont d'Iena and the Eiffel Tower in the background, during his only visit to the French capital.

    Then me & the kids, Feb '06. Nearly same view
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    I believe that the Germans took the exact route that the French Army took for its victory in 1918. It was the final insult for France.
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Attached Files:

  9. KriegsmarineFreak

    KriegsmarineFreak Senior Member

    1) Liberation of Paris

    2) Allies Marching Into Paris

    3) Germans Capture Paris
     

    Attached Files:

  10. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    If any British were in Paris when it was liberated? they should not have been there. Paris was off limits to all British Troops. That some got there is beyond question, but not officially, the Liberation of Paris was to be reserved for the Americans and the French. NOt the British.
    We Liberated Brussels. The Paris show was reserved for the Yanks, and at the time caused not a little resentment.
    Sapper
     
  11. KriegsmarineFreak

    KriegsmarineFreak Senior Member

    It looks like the French resistance played a huge role in recapturing Paris. The English played no part in it.
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    From 4th Wilts War Diary.

    9/9/44 Giverney , France.
    Visits to Pars commence. 26 allowed to go, travelling in unit tpt.
    Normal training carried out.

    10/9/44 Giverney , France.
    Visits to PARIS continue.
    Church parade held in village hall.

    11/9/44 Giverney , France.
    Further visits to PARIS after being cancelled previous night.
    Normal trg carried out.

    12/9/44 Giverney, France.
    Visits to PARIS cancelled.
    Baths for Bn at MBU. Coys carry on with normal routine.

    I'm not saying they were there for the liberation, they just popped down later as tourists.
     
  13. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I said that despite the bar on the British some got there. As to the French playing a great part in the freeing of the City? In fact they did very little, only coming to the surface as the Germans fled the City.

    During the long battles, at no time did we find evidence, or meet up with
    "Freedom Fighters" We did in Belgium but not in France.
    Sapper
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    In Assault Division it says some of 3rd Div's troops got to Paris until their trips were stopped.
    For two or three days all units sent a few lucky troops into Paris for the day, but this excellent scheme had to be abandoned when Paris was placed out of bounds to all British troops.

    I think that would have annoyed me too, letting the Yanks have all the fun in gay-Paree!
     
  16. sapper

    sapper WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    We had strict orders not to go to Paris. Not that we had the chance. PITY!
    Sapper
     
  17. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    I used to go to church with a man from the US 30th Division. He told me that they were not allowed to go to Paris either. I don't know at what level of command the prohibition came from.
     
  18. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I don't know at what level of command the prohibition came from.
    No doubt the level that were enjoying what the 'city of lights' had to offer ;).
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Found an interesting article about an American unit based in Paris.
    Seine Section, Paris, France, 1945 - WWII Unit History (Lone Sentry)
    Reading this would annoy the British Tommies who weren't allowed there.
    The establishment of Paris as an important leave center brought with it the need for lodging, messing and recreational facilities for the U. S. Forces. The American Red Cross made available a number of clubs for all branches of the service. The first club to open in Paris was Rainbow Corner, which opened on 3 September 1944. By V-E Day, 8 May 1945, there were fourteen clubs open in Paris plus three day-clubs for feeding. By the middle of June 1945, there were a total of approximately 10,000 beds for leave troops. Over a hundred thousand officers and men per week attended six of our large Cinemas and Theaters.


    Perhaps the powers that be thought it best to keep the Tommies & GI's apart, as they'd probably trash the place, once they started fighting each-other.
     
  20. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    We had strict orders not to go to Paris. Not that we had the chance. PITY!
    Sapper

    Indeed a Pity, when reading or seeing documentaries about it, it is easy to think that the war had paused for the liberation.
    British forces were fighting hard at that time in the pursuit of the German army to the Seine. From 5th Camerons diary;

    "....... patrols were pushed out towards the Seine, 60 prisoners were brought in at the end of the day. The battalion consolidated on high ground a mile from the river. It was here that all available fire power dealt with the Germans still trying to get across: there were Cameron 6 pounders; the 17 pounders of "K" Troop in support; the medium machine guns of "D" Company, 1/7th Middlesex Regiment; and the ever present faithful friends, the 492nd Highland Field Battery, while dominating the immediate area ahead were the battalion Snipers of scout platoon.
    It was a glorious day, reminiscent of Punt shooting. There was only one ferry left for the enemy to use, and by good luck this was in range of small arms. All the weapons that could be mustered were unleashed over open sights at the unfortunate Germans cooped up on a small raft like contraption in mid - river. The toll taken of the enemy was indeed heavy".
     

Share This Page