Lost Evidence: "Liberation of Paris" 4/5

The Liberation of Paris (also known as Battle for Paris) took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on the 25th. The capital of France had been administered by Nazi Germany since the Second Compiègne armistice in June 1940, when the Vichy puppet regime was established with its capital in the central city of Vichy.

The liberation was an uprising by the French Resistance against the German Paris garrison. On 24 and 25 August, the FFI resistants received backup from the Free French Army of Liberation and the uprising evolved to urban warfare with the use of barricades, submachine guns, and tanks firing against Nazi and Milice snipers until the German surrender on 25 August.

This battle marked the end of Operation Overlord, the liberation of France by the Allies, the restoration of the French Republic and the exile of the Vichy government to Sigmaringen in Germany.

Allied strategy emphasized destroying German forces retreating towards the Rhine, when the French Resistance (FFI) under Henri Rol-Tanguy staged an uprising in the French capital. Supreme Allied Commander Eisenhower did not consider Paris as a primary objective; instead, American and British Allies wanted to enter Berlin before the Soviet Union's army and put an end to the conflict.[2] Moreover Eisenhower thought it too early for a battle in Paris; he wanted to prevent another battle of Stalingrad, and knew that Hitler had given orders to destroy Paris. In a siege, it was estimated 4,000 tons of food per day would be needed to supply the Parisians, plus effort to restore vital infrastructure including transport and energy supply. Such a task would require time and entire Allied divisions.[3]

However, Charles de Gaulle negotiated with the Allies, threatening to send his Free French 2nd Armored Division (2ème DB) into Paris single-handedly to prevent the uprising being quelled as had happened earlier in Warsaw. (On 1 August, the Red Army reached the outskirts of the Polish capital but did not intervene to support the local resistance Home Army that was forced to surrender to the Nazis; the city ended up being razed.) Eventually Eisenhower agreed to send backup.

On 24 August, delayed by combat and poor roads, Free French General Leclerc, commander of the 2nd Armored Division disobeyed his superior U.S. field commander general Omar Bradley and sent a vanguard (la colonne Dronne) to Paris, with the message that the entire division would be there the following day. Bradley reportedly said "OK, Leclerc, run into Paris...". The vanguard column of M4 Sherman tanks, M2 half-track and GMC trucks was commanded by Captain Raymond Dronne, who became the first uniformed Allied liberating officer to enter Paris

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• World
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• WW2
• paris
• lost
• evidence
• Normandy
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• luftwaffe
• wehrmacht
• panzers

[atemlos2585]

poles are tough mother fuckers.

[Abridgedfan134]

You have no respect for the french have you?

[Raptorkingdom1]

GO POLISH 1ST ARMOUR DEVISION!

[NobleKorhedron]

@hitide286: Well in 1940 French tanks were actually BETTER than German tanks. The French lost due to poor tactics and leadership.

[TheLloydA1]

@Rizrsniper Do you mean with our British Freinds in your comment ?

[canadaloveswhiskey]

@hitide286 Early French tanks were far superior to German Tanks, the Panzer I, and II's were poor quality, the Panzer I were outfitted with machine guns while the Panzer II had a very small gun, it was superior German Taticts that won the Battle of France, not technology. As for Du Gaulle all I really know is that he was sent to North Africa before leaving for London after the Fall of France

[hitide286]

@canada loves whiskey What units ( and dates)..did DeGaulle command?...He was in N. Africa in 1940 &1941??? really...most verifiable facts put him in London for four years...until all the fighting was over...I have the utmost respect for LeClerc...now he was a real hero...btw...when the Germans planned a counter attack on Paris..it was a Polish unit that turned them back..not French...and what "superior" armour did the French have...cooking pans?

[canadaloveswhiskey]

@hitide286 He had been demoted and sent to North Africa, because he had disobyed orders, and had grouped his armour together copying the German, example, and had beat an armoured column, almost killing Rommel in the process. This sterotypeis not deserved. The French troops were well trained and extremly capable, and the armour was better then anything the Germans. The French lost because of their Senior command where pigheaded, stubborn, and many were spympathetic to the Nazi Ideals

[DuguesclinBZH]

@hitide286 France was not prepared either militarily or morally for a new war.

Yet the French have declared war on Germany for Poland. we can blame the French for not attacking western Germany, but certainly not for not supporting the Poles (who were close friends of France).

the French would never have attacked the Soviet Union because the communists were strong in France.

[hitide286]

@Rizr Sniper Just for clarification, the "save you" comment was not intended to minimise the effort and sacrifices France made on its own behalf in WWI, but I need not remind you that it was (WWI) a European conflict, and France declared war on Germany, seem they did that TWICE..& COULD not finish the job by themselves..there is an old American saying " dont start a fight with the toughest kid on the block...if you can't FINISH  it..." BTW where was De Gaulle when all the fighting was going on?

[Rizrsniper]

@hitide286 Saved? France fought through the first world war for its entirety. Losing 1,397,800 soldiers. While what did America do? Waited until the final years of the war to send troops and relieved pressure off the French by attacking Chateau-Thierry and Balleau wood. They also saved the second Battle of the Marne. I am not disregarding what American soldiers did but how can you say "We saved you" when we fought for 4 years with out British friends and bled our population white.

[peanutbutter11385]

@TheIcelandicPatriot indeed, i agree