Top Photo: Crowds of French patriots line the Champs-Élysées to view Free French tanks and halftracks of General Philippe Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division pass through the Arc de Triompheafter Paris was liberated on August 261944. Among the crowd can be seen banners in support of General Charles de Gaulle. Courtesy US Library of Congress. 

In August 1944as the Allies gained the upper hand in the battle of FranceSupreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower had to decide what to do about Paris. When the Allies invaded France on June 61944they intended to bypass the historic city. Engaging in a protracted urban battle in Paris would risk destruction of the city’s key historical and cultural sitesslow down the advance toward Germanyand require significant resources to secure and sustain the civilian population. Bypassing Paris and its garrison would leave the German soldiers in the city isolatedwith no outside support and few options. From a military standpointliberating Paris offered no advantage to the Allies. 

The French peoplehoweversaw it differently. Despite the impending defeat of the Wehrmacht in Francethe victory over Germany would not be complete until the capital of France was liberated and the Vichy government replaced. The taste of imminent victory led to labor strikesattacks on Wehrmacht patrolsandon August 14a rebellion led by Communist resistance. Despite the rising violence and casualtiesParis police left their posts to join the rebellion the next day. General Charles de Gaullewho arrived on the Continent on August 20warned that a determined German effort would surely defeat the rebels. Moreoverhe argued that the ongoing insurrection strengthened the French communists. Eisenhower realized they had to intervene: on August 22he ordered General Omar Bradleycommander of the 12th US Army Groupto seize the city.

General Charles de Gaulle and his entourage proudly stroll down the Champs-Élysées to Notre Dame Cathedral for a Te Deum ceremony following the city's liberation on August 251944. Courtesy Imperial War Museum. 

Bradley gave the mission to Major General Leonard T. GerowV Corps commander. As Eisenhower had promised de GaulleFree French forces would liberate the city; specificallyGeneral Philippe François Marie Leclerc de Hauteclocque’s French 2nd Armored Division. Gerow assigned Major General Raymond O. Barton’s 4th Infantry Division the task of securing the Seine River crossings south of Paris while serving as a reserve for Leclerc’s forces. Barton’s division was already in a reserve status integrating replacements when he received his orders on August 23. That nightthe division left its encampment at Carrouges in a steady downpour and headed toward Paris. By the evening of the 24thBarton’s troops had occupied an assembly area about 40 miles southwest of the cityready to move when ordered to do so.

MeanwhileLeclerc’s advance into Paris quickly ran into trouble. Ignoring Gerow’s orders to enter the city from the westLeclerc chose to attack from the south. He outran his artillery support before encountering the strongest portion of the German defensemaking little progress. Roadblocks and ambushes chipped away at the French forcesand by the evening of August 24Leclerc’s formations had suffered 300 casualtieswith 35 tanks and 117 other vehicles destroyed. Gerow complained to Bradleywho was equally irritated by Leclerc’s behaviorordering Barton to move past the French troops and enter the city from the southeast. Stilldespite Leclerc’s slow progressword moved quickly through the populace that the French 2nd Armored Division had entered the cityspreading joy among the long-suffering Parisians.

German resistance had been moderate so farand largely unorganized. The commander of the German garrisonGeneral Dietrich von Choltitzhad a respectable combat record and long military pedigree. Stillhe knew that his small force of 20,000 had no chance against three million French citizensespecially now that Allied forces had entered the city. Andlike the AlliesCholtitz did not desire to see Paris reduced to rubble. While reporting to his superiors on imaginary operationsCholtitz could do little more than hope for reinforcements that were not coming.

On the morning of August 25the liberation gained momentum. Leclerc resumed the attack andby 10:00 a.m.the French 2nd Armored Division was in the cityreducing strongpoints and taking increasing numbers of German prisoners. While French resistance fighters and police fired on enemy barricades and captured fleeing GermansFrench infantry assaulted Choltitz’s headquarters in the early afternoontaking the garrison commander prisoner. His captors took Choltitz to Leclerc at 3:00 p.m.where the men signed a formal surrender document. Paris was finally liberated after four long years of German occupation.

As Allied troops enter Paris on August 26celebrating crowds on place De La Concorde scatter for cover from small bands of remaining German snipers. Courtesy US National Archives. 

As word moved through the city of the German surrendercitizens sought their own justice against collaborators by conducting thousands of summary executions. Meanwhilethe military operation wound downwith 15,000 German prisoners of war captured in Paris and another 4,200 killed or wounded. The process of retribution and reconciliation would go on for yearsbut for now a celebratory mood took hold . De Gaulle entered the city in the late afternoon of August 25declaring Paris liberated by the French while barely mentioning the Allied forceswhich had lost 50,000 troops since June 6. As de Gaulle cemented his hold on the political leadership of FranceGIsFrench troopsand resistance fighters hunted the remaining snipers and holdout defenders around the city.

Despite his snubbing of the American effort in the city’s liberationde Gaulle asked Eisenhower for two US divisions to remain in Paris to provide security and deal with any unexpected enemy activitybut the Supreme Commander was in no position to hold back such a large force with combat operations continuing east of the city. Regardlesshe would not have placed American troops under French command. As a compromisehe diverted the US 28th Infantry Division through Paris on the way to the front so the troops could make a show of force while taking part in the Victory Parade on August 29. It was a grand spectacleand a moment of celebrationbut with the war waiting to the eastit was a fleeting moment.