Few historical events are as universally recognized as the second World War for better or worse. World War Two lasted 6 years between 1939 and 1945 starting with the invasion of northern Poland separating mainland Germany from its exclave and historical homeland of East Prussia. however, among the events of the war, the fall of Paris is among the most major and equally so, ending today august 25th 1944 the Allied powers entered Paris and liberated the Nazi-occupied city from the German Reich. on August 19th, 1944 the FFI (known as the french forces of the interior, resistance fighters) begun an uprising following a broadcast from the BBC and spurred on by the invasion of Normandy and propaganda which the nazis had been too underpowered to fully stop. The German occupiers in fact were being stretched so thin the police from the city had been called to serve on the front lines leaving the FFI to spread propaganda and by the end of the day skirmishes between the FFI and police aided by German armored columns retreating from the west from the rapid and overwhelming advance of the allied powers. Over the next 2 days, the skirmishes had begun to increase, reaching their peak by the 22nd where German units had begun to leave their fortifications. By 9:00 AM the next day Germans had opened fire on an FFI stronghold and the armor from the west began to attempt to break through the barricades raised by the FFI.
on the 24th of august, the allied powers (the USA, Free France, United Kingdom, and those of the British colonies of Canada, India, New Zealand, Australia, and dozens of others) began to enter the city, and the units who had entered the city first were in an ironic twist the 2nd french armored division who disobeyed a direct command from American major general Leonard T. Gerow followed by the regiment La Nueve (Spanish for "the nine") made up of 160 men (over 140 of which were Spanish soldiers), the next day American infantry divisions would liberate the "Place de la Bastille"
The next day the German occupiers would surrender in direct contradiction with orders received from Adolf Hitler himself. commander of the german garrison of the city Dietrich von Choltitz would sign the surrender at the Hotel Maurice before being escorted to the police station and then to the Gare Montparnasse where he would announce the surrender to the rest of the forces fighting in Germany and to the rest of the country, Dietrich von Choltitz would be held as a prisoner in Paris until 1947. Over the next 3 days, parades would be held in the city as a victory of the battle. the losses from both sides would total up to
more than 4900 were killed and over 13000 taken prisoner or wounded
history occurs every day. while history may not always be as glamorous or famous as the Liberation of Paris history still occurred and we must never forget the bravery of those who fought to preserve our freedom and never forget their losses no matter if it was 7 years ago or 78 years ago
Journal Officiel des établissements français de l'Océanie, Titre V, Dispositions générales, p. 43
Libération de Paris: Balises 1944, L'Humanité, 23 août 2004.
Thorton, Willis (1962). The Liberation of Paris – Google Books. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
Rankin, Nicholas (2011). Ian Fleming's Commandos: The Story of the Legendary 30 Assault Unit. Oxford University Press. pp. 259–263.
