Vive la France!

Liberation of France

Everything started the 22nd of August of the year 1944, the barricades began to be set up around the city, and fighting between French fighters and German troops, everything was unleashed.This fighting led to the loss of 1,500 fighters and civilian lives. Even though the Allies had long avoided bombing the French capital, the German General Dietrich von Choltitz's troops did not had a low moral sense. 

General Dwight Eisenhower, the American commander of all Allied forces in Europe, was at first was against taking Paris. He originally planned to be close, but not attack, Paris, letting its defenses fall as Germany was defeated; he could only enter the city. Free French leader General Charles de Gaulle, had a different view. He demanded intervention, saying to break away from Eisenhower's command and attempt to take Paris on his own should Eisenhower continue to avoid the French capital. In the interest of harmony among top Allied leaders, Eisenhower caved in to de Gaulle's demands; in the end, the general rising of fighters in the city, should make the task a little bit easier while getting small the damage to property and lives.

Against Adolf Hitler's specific orders, von Choltitz chose not to fight for Paris. He began taking the people out of the city in secret before the Allies arrived. 

General von Choltitz surrendered to Leclerc on the 25th of August, the same day that the Allies entered the city. Also on that day, de Gaulle moved his headquarters into the War Ministry in Paris at the approval of Eisenhower; de Gaulle's French forces marched in the Champs-Élysées the 26th of August. De Gaulle made a public speech legitimizing his claims as the liberator of France. 

Acting as the ruler of Paris, de Gaulle requested two American division to remain in Paris to assist him in maintaining order. Arriving in Paris on 27th of August, Eisenhower understood de Gaulle's needs but could not excuse the men necessary from the front. Instead, what the American Supreme Commander did was that he made the American Infantry Division march through Paris, and he led the troops eastward to the front lines. General Bradley stood by de Gaulle on the review stand during the victory parades to symbolize American contributions to the liberation of France.

Written by: Paula Guardia