Liberation of Paris
The Allied strategy emphasized destroying German forces retreating toward the Rhine, not liberating Paris. General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, did not consider the liberation of Paris a primary objective in August 1944. The goal was to end World War II in Europe and allow Allies to concentrate efforts on the Pacific Front. Adolf Hitler had ordered the German military to completely destroy Paris if attacked. Paris held immense cultural and historical value that made its destruction a risk no one wanted to take. It was estimated that feeding the population after liberation would require tons of food per day along with building materials and engineering skill. Basic utilities needed restoration and transportation systems required rebuilding. All those supplies were needed elsewhere in the war effort. The French Forces of Interior, led by Henri Rol-Tanguy, staged an uprising against the German garrison upon the approach of the US Third Army under General George S. Patton. De Gaulle feared military rule by Allied forces through the Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories. That administration had been approved by President Franklin Roosevelt but opposed by Eisenhower. Upon learning the French Resistance had risen up, de Gaulle petitioned for an immediate frontal assault. He threatened to detach the French 2nd Armored Division and order it to attack German forces in Paris alone, bypassing the SHAEF chain of command.
On the 19th of August, columns of German vehicles moved down the Avenue des Champs Élysées while posters calling citizens to arm appeared on walls. These posters argued that the war continued and called on police, Republican Guard, gendarmerie, and patriotic men aged 18 to 50 to join the struggle. Other posters promised chastisement for traitors and Vichy loyalists. The first skirmishes began as Resistance fighters took over buildings including the Préfecture de Police and the Louvre. Small mobile units of the Red Cross entered the city to assist wounded French and Germans. On the 20th of August, barricades began appearing across Paris. Trucks were positioned, trees cut down, and trenches dug in pavement to free paving stones for consolidating defenses. Men, women, and children transported materials using wooden carts. Fuel trucks were attacked and captured while civilian vehicles were commandeered and painted with camouflage. The Resistance used these vehicles to transport ammunition and orders between barricades. Skirmishes reached their peak on the 22nd of August when some German units tried leaving their fortifications. At 9:00 a.m. on the 23rd of August, under Choltitz's orders, Germans opened fire on the Grand Palais, an FFI stronghold. Hitler gave the order to inflict maximum damage on the city.
On the 24th of August, after combat and poor roads delayed his 2nd Armored Division, Free French general Leclerc disobeyed American V Corps commander Major General Leonard T. Gerow. He sent a vanguard to Paris with the message that the entire division would arrive the following day. The 9th Company of the Régiment de marche du Tchad, nicknamed La Nueve because of its 160 men, broke into central Paris through the Porte d'Italie. One hundred forty-six of those men were Spanish Republicans under Captain Raymond Dronne. The half-track Ebro fired the first rounds at a large group of German fusiliers and machine guns upon reaching Hôtel de Ville at 9:22 p.m. Civilians went out to sing La Marseillaise while Pierre Schaeffer broadcast news of the 2nd Armored Division's arrival. Churches including Notre-Dame de Paris and Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre rang their bells. The 4th US Infantry Division commanded by Raymond Barton entered through the Porte d'Italie in early hours of the 25th of August. British 30 Assault Unit searched buildings for vital intelligence later capturing former Headquarters of Admiral Karl Dönitz. Despite repeated orders from Hitler that Paris must not fall except lying in complete debris, Choltitz surrendered at 3:30 p.m. at the Hôtel Meurice on the 25th of August.
The same day Germans surrendered, Charles de Gaulle moved back into War Ministry on Rue Saint-Dominique before making a speech at Hôtel de Ville. His speech proclaimed Paris had liberated itself with help from French forces, notably downplaying part played by Barton's 4th Infantry Division. De Gaulle dismissed Vichy as false France and emphasized role of French people in liberation. He drove necessity for French people to do duty of war by advancing into Benelux countries and Germany. De Gaulle wanted France among victors believing it had escaped fate of being administered like Germany and Japan would be in 1945. The Provisional Government of French Republic replaced fallen Vichy regime and united politically divided Resistance by drawing Gaullists, nationalists, communists, and anarchists into new national unanimity government. De Gaulle requested French unit lead liberation parade which Allied High Command agreed to on condition chosen unit contain no black or non-white soldiers. Two thirds of French liberation army were black or North African colonial soldiers. Non-white soldiers predominantly Moroccans and Algerians making up around one quarter strength were replaced by white soldiers from other units supplemented by lighter-skinned soldiers from North Africa and Syria.
The liberation was ongoing but food in Paris got scarcer by the day. French rail network largely destroyed by Allied bombing made getting food in a problem especially since Germans stripped Paris of resources. Allies realized necessity to get Paris back on feet and pushed plan for food convoys through capital as soon as possible. Civil Affairs of SHAEF authorized import of up to 2,400 tons of food per day at expense of military effort. A British food convoy labeled Vivres Pour Paris entered on the 29th of August while US supplies flown in via Orléans Airport before sent in. Five hundred tons delivered daily by British and another 500 tons by Americans. Along with French civilians outside Paris bringing indigenous resources, food crisis overcome within ten days. An estimated 800 to 1,000 Resistance fighters killed during Battle for Paris while another 1,500 wounded. Second Armored Division suffered 71 killed and 225 wounded including material losses of 35 tanks, six self-propelled guns, and 111 vehicles described as rather high ratio of losses for armored division according to historian Jacques Mordal.
On the 25th of August 2004 two military parades reminiscent of those held 26 and the 29th of August 1944 commemorated 60th anniversary Liberation of Paris under auspices Senate. Jazz concert and popular dancing took place Jardin du Luxembourg while homage paid Spanish contribution first time in 60 years. Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë laid plaque wall along River Seine Quai Henri IV presence surviving Spanish veterans Javier Rojo President Senate Spain delegation Spanish politicians. On the 25th of August 2014 plaques placed Boulevard Saint-Michel neighboring streets vicinity Luxembourg Palace seat French Senate where combatants killed August 1944. Dancing occurred street every neighborhood capital Place Bastille son et lumière spectacle evening Place Hôtel Ville. On the 25th of August 2019 many acts commemoration focused role Spanish soldiers La Nueve. Mayor Anne Hidalgo descendant Spanish Republican veterans emphasized during inauguration fresco taken too long recognize chapter French history. On the 16th of May 2007 following election President Fifth Republic Nicolas Sarkozy organized homage to 35 French Resistance martyrs executed Germans the 16th of August 1944. French historian Max Gallo narrated events woods Bois de Boulogne while Parisian schoolgirl read 17-year-old Guy Môquet final letter. After speech chorale French Republican Guard closed ceremony singing Partisans song.
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Common questions
Why did General Dwight Eisenhower not consider the liberation of Paris a primary objective in August 1944?
General Dwight Eisenhower prioritized destroying German forces retreating toward the Rhine over liberating Paris. The Allied strategy aimed to end World War II in Europe and concentrate efforts on the Pacific Front instead.
Who led the French Forces of Interior during the uprising against the German garrison in Paris?
Henri Rol-Tanguy led the French Forces of Interior that staged an uprising against the German garrison upon the approach of the US Third Army under General George S. Patton. This resistance movement included police, Republican Guard, and gendarmerie joining the struggle.
When did Colonel Dietrich von Choltitz surrender at the Hôtel Meurice in Paris?
Colonel Dietrich von Choltitz surrendered at 3:30 p.m. on the 25th of August 1944 at the Hôtel Meurice. He disobeyed Adolf Hitler's orders to inflict maximum damage on the city despite repeated commands to destroy it completely.
How many Spanish Republicans were part of the 9th Company of the Régiment de marche du Tchad known as La Nueve?
One hundred forty-six men from the 9th Company of the Régiment de marche du Tchad were Spanish Republicans under Captain Raymond Dronne. These soldiers broke into central Paris through the Porte d'Italie and fired the first rounds at a large group of German fusiliers and machine guns.
What was the daily food import capacity authorized by Civil Affairs of SHAEF for liberated Paris?
Civil Affairs of SHAEF authorized the import of up to 2,400 tons of food per day at the expense of military effort. A British convoy labeled Vivres Pour Paris entered on the 29th of August while US supplies flown in via Orléans Airport delivered five hundred tons daily alongside another 500 tons from American sources.