Follow the swing of opinion as conditions of daily life deteriorated, as the allies succeeded and the resistance movement gained strength. Reach the brighter days and the euphoria of the liberation of Paris and hear again the emphatic words of De Gaulle surrounded by the Generals Leclerc and Rol-Tangy: "Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated! " (Paris brisé ! Paris martyrisé ! Mais Paris libéré !) and Paris .... that did not burn !!!
How did these four long years of occupation go by? From the point of view of the occupants of the buildings of the German Kommandantur (Headquarters), the Gestapo, the SS barracks, etc… and that of ordinary Parisians, seen through the eyes of my mother who was just twenty at the time, and of her brothers, all young teenagers.
How did the leading personalities and artists behave? Did the city of light stop shining? What happened to “Gay Paree”? What about the black market and the drastic restrictions? What practical consequences were there for the population as a whole and for people of Jewish faith in particular?
Paris brisé ! Paris martyrisé ! Mais Paris libéré ! “ (Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated!). Thus spoke General de Gaulle directly after the liberation of Paris in August 1944. In June 1940 he had also made a famous appeal from London to join the flame of French resistance, though very few immediately followed. The “swastitka” flag floated from the top of the Eiffel Tower ...
Paris in World War II (1940-1944)
See description of
You can be sure you will learn what most Parisians totally ignore when they hurry by these places daily.
Dietrich von Choltitz in 1940.
German Headquarters: Place de l'Opéra and Rue de Rivoli (down)
TOUR 6
All tours are organized in the historical heart of the city and comprise an overview of how Paris evolved: a quick summary takes you from pre-historic times to the 13th century. Tours do not cover the famous tourist monuments such as The Louvre or Notre-Dame but they focus on charming, off-beat places, from the 13th to the 20th century, covering their history and accompanying anecdotes, be they funny or tragic.
Tours are entirely on foot, and last from 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of interest and questions asked. Rain is never a cause for cancellation (although we prefer sunshine to umbrellas!)
The TOURS