Posted on 06/14/2006 3:45:29 AM PDT by mainepatsfan
This Day In History | World War II
June 14
1940 Germans enter Paris
On this day in 1940, Parisians awaken to the sound of a German-accented voice announcing via loudspeakers that a curfew was being imposed for 8 p.m. that evening-as German troops enter and occupy Paris.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had tried for days to convince the French government to hang on, not to sue for peace, that America would enter the war and come to its aid. French premier Paul Reynaud telegrammed President Franklin Roosevelt, asking for just such aid-a declaration of war, and if not that, any and all help possible. Roosevelt replied that the United States was prepared to send material aid-and was willing to have that promise published--but Secretary of State Cordell Hull opposed such a publication, knowing that Hitler, as well as the Allies, would take such a public declaration of help as but a prelude to a formal declaration of war. While the material aid would be forthcoming, no such commitment would be made formal and public.
By the time German tanks rolled into Paris, 2 million Parisians had already fled, with good reason. In short order, the German Gestapo went to work: arrests, interrogations, and spying were the order of the day, as a gigantic swastika flew beneath the Arc de Triomphe.
While Parisians who remained trapped in their capital despaired, French men and women in the west cheered-as Canadian troops rolled through their region, offering hope for a free France yet.
The United States did not remain completely idle, though. On this day, President Roosevelt froze the American assets of the Axis powers, Germany and Italy.
(Excerpt) Read more at historychannel.com ...
Germany enters Paris. How many times have they been overrun now?
Radical Muslims enter Paris.........
Germany twice.
So I make it four.
L
Foreign troops entering Paris does seem to be a recurring event.
The Muslims seem to be doing well right now...
Let's call it 5.
The French officer extolled the virtues of being based in Paris. After a while the German officer piped up "Come to Germany. We have better beer, and every few years we get to visit France anyway"
The Germans came within a hair of doing it three times.
June 14th is Flag Day.
My great grandfather and my grandfather visited there along with the rest of the US army.
I've got a new one I'm going to put up today.
The Germans wore gray - you wore blue...
" ...in three weeks England will have her neck wrung like a chicken!”
That is the classic photo of that event.
"The Germans wore gray - you wore blue..."
I love that quote. Great movie.
A few years ago I was working with some folks from England and several of them were sons of WWII vets. We were discussing the war and one of their younger colleagues asked if the Red Baron had been given an award personally by Hitler. We were a little too stunned to give a proper response.
You are correct. When I was in college my professor brought in a French colleague of his to lecture us on the fall of France. He spent a good deal on the communists aiding the Nazis.
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