Once the invading force got a foot hold on the North coast of France, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower and his staff were only interested in getting to Berlin as soon as possible. That did not include an attack to wrestle Paris from German occupation.
Reasons to Bypass Paris
The Allies had good basis for their reluctance to attack Paris. They were:
1. It was of no strategic significance.
2. Apprehension about street fighting. Allied armies, like most troops even to this day, were not specifically trained for urban warfare. In addition, Eisenhower did not want to see Paris ending up in ruins like Stalingrad.
3. It was believed that once the territories around the city were taken, the German garrison in the French capital would surrender.
4. Eisenhower feared the political repercussions. He was afraid it would be believed that the Americans had placed Free French leader Charles de Gaulle in power.
De Gaulle, the Free French and the Resistance Had Other Ideas
The Free French units that participated in the invasion, however, had different plans. So, did the French Resistance in the City of Lights.
To the French freeing Paris, which had endured four years of German occupation, was a matter of honor.
Furthermore, the first Allied troops to enter Paris had to be French. It is believed that when the 2nd French Armored Division under Major General Philippe Leclerc landed in Utah Beach almost two months after D-Day, it was already under orders from de Gaulle to march on the French capital.
In Paris, the Maquis of the French Resistance became bolder and began open operations against the occupying troops. The Resistance fully expected the Allies to make the liberation of Paris a priority.
Conflict with the Allies
From the moment Leclerc and his troops set foot on French soil, they were at odds with their American Allies. Placed under the command of Lieutenant General George S. Patton and as part of the U.S. Third Army, the 2nd French Armored Division was a thorn in the Allies' side.
While many times Leclerc, who despised the Americans, proved to be a brilliant strategist gaining unexpected advantages, at other times he caused needless setbacks. He and Patton grew to loath, but still somehow respect, each other.
In the meantime, de Gaulle was pushing the Allied political leadership into making a move for Paris.
The Parisians Make it Happen
On August 15, 1944, the Paris police, gendarmerie and the Metro employees went on strike. The Maquis began a total mobilization and by the next days were fighting the Germans.
By August 19th, rumors of an imminent Allied assault were ramparts, the Germans began retreating and the Resistance was in full revolt.
A veritable Parisian tradition, barricades, appeared on August 20th and the Maquis prepared for a siege.
German dictator Adolph Hitler, ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to burn the city and blow every bridge. Von Choltitz disobeyed.
Through negotiations with the Resistance and some shows of force – among them the burning of the Grand Palais held by the Maquis – von Choltitz somehow prevented the destruction of the city.
Hearing of what was going on, Eisenhower gave Leclerc the green light and, with Americans support, the 2nd French Armored Division raced toward the City of Lights. The way was not without hazards for in various skirmishes 71 French soldiers were killed, 225 wounded and 35 tanks were destroyed.
The Maquis suffered some 2,500 casualties with between 800 and 1,000 killed, but on the night of August 23, all but 2,700 German troops gave up. About 3.200 Germans were killed and almost 13,000 were taken prisoner
On the morning of August 24 Leclerc and his men entered the western section of the city, to the cheers of the throng of Parisians long the Champs Elysees. Wisely, the Americans stayed away from the celebration, occupying the eastern section of Paris.
The next day General von Choltitz surrendered and de Gaulle entered the city. That is why August 25 is the official date for the liberation of Paris.
Outcome of the Liberation
The Liberation of Paris by French forces and resistance fighters provided the new provisional government, under de Gaulle, the prestige authority it needed to lead the nation.
The strong willed d Gaulle, eventually obtained recognition of France as a victor in the war and an occupation zones was allotted to the French in Germany.
On the other side, many member of the Vichy Militia, which cooperated with the Gestapo, were summarily executed without trial. Many of the women who had romantic relations with Germans were arrested, publicly humiliated by having their heads shaved and sometimes severely beaten without proper legal procedure.
The 2nd French Armored Division went on to fight in Asia after the war ended in Europe.
Resources
Zaloga, Steven J. and Gerrard, Howard . Liberation of Paris 1944: Patton's Race for the Seine. Osprey Publishing, Oxford and New York, 2008
Ivan Castro - Ivan Castro, a former reporter for The Miami Herald, is a free lance writer specializing in History and Archeology.
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