The Liberation of Paris (August 1944)

The liberation of Paris took place from 19 August 1944 until the German garrison surrendered the French capital on 25 August 1944. Paris had been occupied by the German Wehrmacht since June 1940. 0:00 Crossing a military pontoon bridge 2:44 Simone Segouin (born 3 October 1925), also known by her nom de guerre Nicole Minet (French Resistance fighter who served in the Francs-tireurs et partisans group) 4:26 Director George Stevens, lieutenant colonel, head of the film unit in the US Army Signal Corps 7:18 General Charles de Gaulle and General (Jacques-Philippe) Leclerc de Hauteclocque 9:04 Hotel Scribe 11:54 Sniper attack 12:39 Parade on August 26 13:03 General Charles de Gaulle arriving at the parade 13:07 General Omar N. Bradley 14:40 Behind the generals “Luxor Obelisk“ partially visible, with General Raymond Oscar Barton standing left Please help us to document this rare historical footage that we scanned in HD-resolution by sending us your comments below if you recognise places, persons, uniforms, machines etc. Don’t forget to mention the timecode (mm:ss) to which you are referring in your comment. Every comment will be evaluated! Music track “Ground Zero“ by courtesy of Antoine Marsaud Spotify: iTunes Music: Music track “Revolution“ by courtesy of Antoine Marsaud Spotify: iTunes Music: Subscribe to chronoshistory: Find more impressive videos in our playlist “Spirit of Liberation“: The liberation began when the French Forces of the Interior (the military structure of the French Resistance) staged an uprising against the German garrison upon the approach of the US Third Army, led by General George Patton. On the night of 24 August, elements of General Philippe Leclerc’s 2nd French Armored Division made their way into Paris and arrived at the Hôtel de Ville shortly before midnight. The next morning, 25 August, the bulk of the 2nd Armored Division and US 4th Infantry Division and other allied units entered the city. Dietrich von Choltitz, commander of the German garrison and the military governor of Paris, surrendered to the French at the Hôtel Le Meurice, the newly established French headquarters. General Charles de Gaulle of the French Army arrived to assume control of the city as head of the Provisional Government of the French Republic.