Views of Paris in the late 1930s, prior to World War II. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (Arch of Triumph). The Tuileries gardens (Jardins des Tuileries) with bed of tulips in full bloom in foreground. The Eiffel Tower (la tour Eiffel). The fountain of River Commerce and Navigation at the Place de la Concord, Paris, with the Madeleine church (L'église de la Madeleine) directly behind, the Hotel de Crillon,barely seen at left, and its twin building, the French Naval Ministry, opposite, on the Rue Royale. People strolling and shopping on the Boulevard Haussmann. Awning of Les Deux Magots café and patrons seated at tables outside, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris. People relaxing in the Tuileries gardens, with Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and Musée du Louvre in background. An artist at work, seated at a bench in the foreground. The west facade of Notre Dame Cathedral. Parisians looking at posters, reading in parks, visiting bookstores. Sign directing visitors to the Congres des Ecrivains (Congress of Writers) held at Maison de la Mutualité conference center at 24 Rue Saint-Victor, 5th arrondissement of Paris, France.in June, 1935. Several writers seated at a table with others standing around. Closeup of three. Closeup of British writer, Aldous Huxley, wearing eyeglasses. Two writers conversing. Scene shifts to Paris at night. Car traffic on streets of Paris at night. Illuminated sign at Moulin Rouge cinema theatre, topped with illuminated arms of a windmill. Lighted sign of nightclub, Le Rat Mort, in Place Pigalle. Interior of a Paris nightclub with sophisticated clientele. French entertainer musician playing a guitar. An official posting an announcement called "Counseil de Revision," calling for conscription (military draft recruitment) of citizens for military service. Parisians preparing defenses in the city, in front of the Eiffel Tower. Man deep in a trench preparing a shelter. Men carrying sandbags up a ladder to protect a national monument. Copy of the New York Times newspaper annnouncing the German attack on Poland. Copy of New York Daily News announcing fall of Holland. The New York World-Telegram paper announcing capitulation of France. German Panzer II tanks and motorcycle troops entering Paris. German infantry marching through the Arch of Triumph, on the Champs-Élysées. A Frenchman wiping his eyes as he watches the occupying troops. Hermann Goering with other officers riding in an open car along a Paris street. Closeup of Arch of Triumph. Adolf Hitler, accopanied by staff, looking at the Eiffel Tower. Nazi flag flying from the tower. Closeup of Hitler looking around. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in Academic garb, at the University of Virginia commencement ceremony, in Memorial Gymnasium, on June 10, 1940. (FDR's son Franklin Jr. was among the graduates assembled, from the UVA Law School). Roosevelt expresses American sympathy and support for nations invaded by the Nazis. American street scene. Women preparing gifts intended for France. A poster showing a French soldier, entitled: "Le Paquet Au Front." American draftees in training at an army post in the U.S. Smoke billowing from American industrial facilities. Workers at an American shipyard. View of warships under construction at the yard. A Huge gun barrel being moved on special rail dollies, in a U.S. arms factory. U.S. Navy F4U Corsair Production Line during World War II. M3 Lee medium tanks being manufactured in U.S. factory. Closeup of finished one being transported via transverse crane. M4 Sherman tanks moving on flat rail cars. A speeding steam locomotive pulling freight cars. Martin PBM-5 Mariner in flight over an Atlantic convoy carrying war materiel to the United Kingdom. Sailor wearing headset, standing near depth charges at stern of a ship. British Naval Ensign flying from mast of a ship.
German troops enter Paris during World War 2. German soldiers marching in Paris. German military vehicles heading towards the Arc de Triomphe. View of the Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles de Gaulle - 75008 Paris). British Fusiliers French Colonial Army marching in Paris a year before the Nazi invasion of France. African soldiers of the French Army during a parade march. Various sectors of the French Army and Navy participate in a parade. Armored vehicles during a parade. German armored vehicles in a parade in Paris. German soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. German Generals Fedor von Bock and Georg von Küchler watch the triumphant parade. Close view of German soldiers marching triumphantly in Paris. View of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. A German soldier on horseback leading a parade march. General Fedor von Bock salutes at German soldiers. Aerial view of Paris after its capture by the Germans. German soldiers on horseback and carts in Paris. Crowds gathered at the Arc de Triomphe. German soldiers at the Place de la Concorde. The hôtel de la Marine (2 place de la Concorde - 75008 Paris), the headquarters of the French Ministry of the Navy (Ministère de la Marine) and becoming the headquarters of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine after the fall of France, is seen behind German soldiers at the Place de la Concorde.
French Forces of the Interior (FFI) fighters and Free French 2nd Armored Division soldiers’ parade after liberation of Paris in World War 2. Crowds of French citizens gather on the sidewalk to watch victory parade. French people holding banners reading “Vive De Gaulle” and “Libération” (“Long live De Gaulle” and “Liberation” in English). French people cheering. Soldiers marching with the French tricolor flag along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The Arc de Triomphe (Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France) is seen on the background. Soldiers marching in front of a building displaying flags of Allied nations- the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and France. FFI fighters (men and women) marching, some with rifles and banners, down a road. Banner reads “FFI”. Another Free French placard reads “2e. Section Libération”. FFI men and women in casual clothing marching along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. FFI fighters march with rifles on their shoulders along Boulevard du Montparnasse, passing by Le Sélect brasserie, a notable meeting place for French intelligentsia. Staff car and a group of half-tracks along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Soldiers with a gun sit on top of a tank during a parade. Soldiers and FFI fighters celebrate their victory by raising the “Victory Sign” on top of a moving military vehicle during the parade. French 2nd Armored Division M4 Sherman tank “St. Anne d’ Auray” moves during the parade. Soldiers on top of a moving vehicle. Crowds running along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. French people running on the sidewalk of Place de la Madeleine, near the Madelios menswear department store.
An Allied tank drives past the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on August 25, 1944, during World War 2. Cheering Parisians hold up a newspaper reading: "Paris is delivered"and mentions French Forces entering Paris. A jeep filled with American soldiers passes through the celebrating crowd. View of American soldiers, including an Army chaplain, mingling with the citizens. More views of the people, including some carrying a large banner reading: "Liberated." They are followed by others carrying French tricolor national flags. Some carry placards thanking the Allies Some cite the Free French and display the Cross of Lorraine. Other placards contain the name "DeGaulle." American M4 Sherman tanks and jeeps drive along a tree-lined street. Closeups of children clapping their hands. A soldier drinks wine from a bottle. American soldiers kissing French girls. More scenes of celebration. A huge crowd gathered at Place de la Concorde with the Egyptian obelisk clearly visible. At this point, the film shifts to images of Paris before the war showing the gay night life of the city. Sidewalks in the artist section. Cafes with outdoor seating. Night clubs with risque shows. Fire works and displays that illustrate why Paris was called the City of Lights. Street open air markets with flowers, foods, and various other commodities for sale. A street vendor on a 3-wheel bicycle cart. The Egyptian obelisk at Place de la Concorde with the Arch of Triumph in the far background. Cars driving on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées near the Arch of Triumph. Notre Dame Cathedral. Sign for Metropolitan (subway). Imposing building along the River Seine with sightseeing boats plying the waters. Monumental bridges. A bus carries passengers along a city street. Men and boys carrying fresh newspapers for delivery. Parisians gather around the eternal flame at the Unknown Soldier Memorial under the Arc de Triomphe monument. A soldier memorial sculpture on the monument. Here the film reverts back to World War II. A German flag flying on a ship. Adolf Hitler showing delight at bringing the French to surrender on 22 June 1940, at the same railroad car of Compiegne, in which the armistice ending World War I was signed on Nov. 11, 1918. The Nazi German flag placed over the French monument in the “Glade of the Armistice”at Compiegne. German officers driving in staff cars past the Arc de Triomphe as German forces occupy Paris on June 14, 1940 in World War II. Views of French citizens listening to the voice of General Dwight D. Eisenhower over their radios, as he broadcasted from London, on June 6, 1944. Naval guns firing. Americans hitting the beach in Normandy (famous image, showing some soldiers falling to enemy fire). Members of the French forces of the Interior (FFI) preparing to engage occupying German forces. The Cross of Lorraine being placed on the sleeve of a woman member. The FFI setting up baricades and defenses in Paris. A tree being cut down for use in defense works. Young boys with shovels helping build fortifications. FFI members hunkered down behind sand-bagged defense positions. FFI firing their rifles and retrieving dead and wounded. German Panzer tanks in the streets. FFI engaged in Guerrilla warfare, sniper against sniper. FFI firing rifles in streets and one firing a machine gun from a building. A German tank burning on a street. Civilians hunkering down as snipers exchange fire. A German soldier captured and escorted by FFI. An Army M8 Greyhound armored car and jeeps and trucks, and M4 Sherman tanks, occupied by de Gaulle's Free French forces, head toward Paris. General de Gaulle standing in a jeep as it moves along a Paris street. FFI remove street barriers to allow an M4 Sherman tank to enter Paris. Free French soldiers and and Americans, accompanied by tanks, race under the Eiffel Tower. A line of Allied armored vehicles held up by last ditch defense actions by German forces. Explosions are heard. Gun fire seen emanating from many windows in a large building. Soldiers firing at the windows. German soldiers emerge from the building with arms raised. Surrendering German soldiers and officers are paraded with arms over their heads headed to prison camps. Some are put to work sweeping debris from a street. General de Gaulle leads a parade of Frenchman along the Champs-Élysées. He places a wreath near the eternal flame under the Arch of Triumph. French people sitting atop a line of Allied armored vehicles. More views of celebrating French people. General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Omar Bradley speaking with a soldier. The French tricolor being raised on a flag pole.
American 3rd Division, 30th Infantry Regiment forces in Aix-en-Provence France, while pushing northward through Southern France in World War II. Group of French civilians with flags in hand, including a French flag with FFI symbol, walk near Town Square. Two cars drive past among huge crowd. Men and women collaborationist prisoners held at gun point by FFI forces and forcibly marched in public in area of Place de l'Hotel de Ville near the Aix-en-Provence City Hall (Pl. de l'Hôtel de ville, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France) as crowd jeers them. U.S. Army forces stand on a balcony of the City Hall as French citizens below cheer and wave. View of Belfry bell tower in background of shot, at Place de l'Hotel de Ville. Civilians with flags in hand. Men with various handguns in hand hold an accused collaborationist and forcibly move his head. Men, women, and children gather near the Fontaine de la Rotonde fountain (Place du Général de Gaulle, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France) at the bottom of the Cours Mirabeau. They wave and cheer happily at American Army tanks, trucks, and forces passing through Aix-en-Provence.
General Charles de Gaulle with French officials in Place de la Concorde during World War 2. Crowds gather in Place de la Concorde (Place de la Concorde 75008 Paris, France) to watch a parade. Men sitting on top of a statue. A French camera man shoots footage on top of a car with a sign “Please don’t kill the French cameramen”. French Forces of the Interior (FFI) fighters marching during victory parade. French civilians sit on top of moving military and Red Cross vehicles. French civilians give the V-sign. French women and soldiers riding on an M3 half-track. Red Cross medics and nurses, some carrying flags, marching from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. Red Cross medics give the V-sign hand gesture (for victory) while cycling. A young Red Cross nurse with leg injury is carried on a stretcher during parade, near Hôtel de Crillon (10 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris, France). Smiling young nurse gives a V-sign while being carried on stretcher.