With what justification did De Gaulle claim that “Paris has liberated herself”?

February 10, 2025

As a critical thinking and essay writing exercise in a tremendous historical context under study, I share with you an essay I wrote many years ago after an exhaustive in depth analysis since I was then, a History student.

“Paris has been liberated by her own people, with the help of the armies of France, with the help and support of the whole of France, that is to say of fighting France, the true France, the eternal France."

As said by Charles De Gaulle the 25 August 1944 at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, France.

1) Subject of investigation

This investigation intends to analyze the Liberation of Paris that occurred between the 19th and 25th of August 1944, after more than four years of German occupation. To do so it explores the French resistance & the allied military intervention. The intention of this investigation is to elaborate a paper that includes different national & ideological visions of this conflict: the way Americans, British and French see the conflict. This research tries to answer the question, with what justification did De Gaulle claim that “Paris has liberated herself”?

2) Methods:

To do so there will be a use of both primary and secondary sources[1].

Primary sources might be documents from people who witnessed this event, and the speech said by De Gaulle on the 25th of August in the Hotel de Ville. A wide range of secondary sources will be obtained from books, Internet or videos.

I will also add interviews with different Uruguayan historians, many which also belong to the Uruguayan French community. The intention of this work is to compare & contrast the different sources analyzing them in the historical context of this event so as to be able to get to analytical conclusions.

Summary of evidence

The Liberation of Paris occurred between the 19th and 25th of August 1944 in the end of World War II. It involved the participation of the Second Armored Division[2], Allies and French Resistance[3], which in term includes a variety of nationalities and ideological streams. Altogether, they fought against the German occupation. For this reason, there have been an enormous amount of opinions on the Liberation. What do these different parts have to say?

Today, some people question whether the French have built a myth about the Liberation. A British Journalist argues:

“Paris launched a series of events to mark the 60th anniversary of its own liberation in August 2004, One of the newspapers published a 48-page commemorative issue. There was no mention of the allies until page 18”.

In order to understand this event today, it is important to explore the context in which it was said:

“There was not the slightest mention of British and American help in the liberation. In the eyes of the allies, this was a churlish and grotesque re writing of history, nevertheless, it was an inspired message, creating an image of national unity where none existed and binding the sorely wounded pride of the country.”[4]

In reference to the fighting that occurred inside Paris before reinforcement arrived, some sources claim there was an important contrast between the German army and the Resistance “Against the 16,000 strong German garrison, which might be reinforced by another division, the resistance in Paris had fewer than 15,000 FFI[5] volunteers and only enough weapons for 2,000… very few of the volunteers had much experience either of the army or the resistance”.[6]

Despite the lack of resources the Resistance had, some authors stress the importance of the Resistance “On the whole, the Germans were effectively deterred from moving around the city”[7]

Other authors disagree with the influence of the Resistance on the Liberation and focus on the military aspects of the Liberation “The importance of the Resistance to the Liberation was political and moral rather than military… the insurrection[8] allowed the people of Paris to become participants in, and not merely spectators of their own deliverance”.[9]

An American site presents the vision of some Americans on the Liberation of Paris: “the Allies freed Paris from the hated Nazis during World War Two. And that’s pretty much all most Americans know about the liberation of Paris, though that hasn’t stopped many American pundits from concluding that the French still owe America a huge debt of gratitude for this action”.[10]

Some historians state that De Gaulle’s role was essential for the Liberation to occur: “The Americans had no intention in liberating Paris; their initial plan was to meet with the British in the west of France heading towards Germany. Even two days before Paris was liberated they denied intervening. They were forced to enter in Paris after the events that happened and due to the pressure of De Gaulle”[11]

A Marxist site discusses the intervention of the Allies in Paris and the role of Communists that participated in the Resistance “Gaulle, personally, and the British and Americans troops played absolutely no role in the liberation of Paris(…)In Italy and Greece, as in France, the Resistance was controlled by the Communist Parties”[12]

Martin Blumenson recognizes the importance of the Allied assistance “Since reinforcement was a military action, the Liberation was to be Allied rather than French. Leclerc was to liberate Paris to help the French recapture their pride after four years of occupation. But Allied troops were to accompany the French into the capital”.[13]

Pierre Louis Berthelemy summarizes his impression on the Liberation

“I might say that Paris was liberated by herself, but this wouldn’t have happened without the support of the Allies, because the Germans knew that a confrontation with the French people alone would have been a much easier scenario.” [14]

General Von Choltitz[15] refused to destroy Paris as Hitler ordered. Some authors argue that he would surrender to the Allies “needed the Allies to arrive soon so that he could surrender to regular forces.”[16]

A French site states the struggle for power inside the Resistance between Gaullists and Communists. The Gaullists seemed more mindful of Hitler's intention to destroy Paris and wanted a truce, pending the Allies' arrival. Also, to them a communist-led uprising ran the risk of another Paris Commune[17], which in turn would allow the Americans to impose their military authority on Paris. The last thing they wanted after ousting the Germans was to lose Paris to American control.[18]

An American Site discusses the role of De Gaulle in the climax of this event.” De Gaulle politely told Eisenhower that if his advance against Paris was not ordered, he would send Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division into the city himself”[19]

Evaluation of Sources

“Paris after the Liberation” written by the British authors Antony Beevor and Artemis Cooper is a very valuable book for this topic since the authors have a wonderful mixture of specific details and the Historical context of this specific event. This book was first published in 1994; the authors have combined both primary and secondary sources, including documents, personal opinion and huge amount of other bibliographical material. Something that makes this source particularly valuable is the inner perspective the authors combine. The Grandfather of Artemis Cooper was the first post war British Ambassador to Paris, and his private papers and diaries provide one of the unpublished sources for this book. The other author has lived in Paris himself, studying this event in depth. Another value is that these historians have managed to revise what had been said about the Liberation of Paris and for such reason they have elaborated a critical analysis of my specific topic. However, this text also has its limitations. Both authors are deeply involved with the French community for this reason they show to be somehow biased in favor of the French. Another limitation is that this book has a civilian approach; it pays more importance to the role of civilians than to the military role in an episode that involves much of the military actions.

The purpose of the site www.marxists.com [20]is to provide archival information of authors which are classified as Marxists or Non Marxists. Furthermore, it intends to inform and analyze the Marxist perspective of History in general. This site is directed to an academic public. This is a valuable source to study the perspective of communists about this event since it provides an inner perspective of the Marxist interpretation of History. However, this site has its limitations. It is limited to be objective, due to the fact that it provides a radical perspective on history as it responds to a specific ideology. At some point, this site lacks of a realistic view of the events that happened in Paris. The site doesn’t evaluate the different parts that were involved in this event. It shows to be limited to recognize the participation of some parts such as the Gaullist. For these reasons, this site shows to be biased in favor of the Communists, exaggerating their role in the Resistance.

Analysis

Julian Jackson has made an exhaustive research about French history, among other books he has written France The dark years 1940-1944. He claims that the liberation was a military action and for this reason he believes that the allies liberated Paris “The importance of the resistance to the liberation was political and moral rather than military… the insurrection allowed the people of Paris to become participants in, and not merely spectators of their own deliverance” [21]He discusses that thousands of French joined the Resistance, with no military formation, for this reason they didn’t influence at all in the outcome of this insurrection. Even those who were more prepared for fighting hadn’t any “strategy to seize power”[22]. The Allied intervention was essential since the resistance was under armed and the Germans were “far from beaten”[23].

Other Authors concentrate on the efforts made by the civilians. Antony Beevor & Artemis Cooper sustain that “On the whole, the Germans were effectively deterred from moving around the city”[24]. These historians highlight the “collective Bravery” of many people who were short of arms but continued fighting as they could, setting barricades and applying Guerrilla Warfare tactics. A solution to the shortage of weapons was the effective network set by the resisters. The resistance controlled the radio and by this means kept the population warned about the situation in the different districts. Also, they would call for anyone who owned a gun to aid others. The constant communication kept everyone noticed “Inhabitants in one district kept friends in another up to date on events with a running commentary”.

The communists were deeply involved in the Resistance, Some sources allege that the intervention of Communists was the most important “in France, the Resistance was controlled by the Communist Parties”. [25]These historians believe Communists paid the most important role in the Liberation of Paris through the Resistance. They sustain that Communists were deeply involved in the Liberation of Paris as a “driving force”.[26] They filtered in Unions, forcing a general strike and provoking the insurrection. These sources say that De Gaulle had a minor role in the liberation of Paris, and state “the 26th, he was horrified to discover that Rol-Tanguy [27]had accepted and signed the official surrender of General Von Choltitz on the previous day”.

Other sources claim that “the Allies freed Paris from the hated Nazis”[28]. Many Historians agree that the Allies sent military reinforcements, supply of food and basically equipped the Second Armored Division of General Leclerc. For this reason they sustain that the Liberation of Paris was Allied rather than French. Moreover, General Von Choltitz decided to disobey Hitler’s orders to destroy Paris and he would surrender to the Allies. “needed the Allies to arrive soon so that he could surrender to regular forces.”[29]These events made the Allied intervention decisive.

Conclusion

The Liberation of Paris is an event that raised many discussions. In History there has been an eternal debate between civilian and military roles in different episodes. This event clearly shows a clash between these two parts which are obviously both important and both interconnected.

The Resistance on its own would have doubtfully succeeded against the strong German Army since they were in disadvantage. As Beevor and Cooper say “Against the 16,000 strong German garrison, which might be reinforced by another division, the resistance in Paris had fewer than 15,000 FFI volunteers and only enough weapons for 2,000… very few of the volunteers had much experience either of the army or the resistance”[30]. Not only they were short of arms but they didn’t have the experience, and preparation of a professional army. The Military role of the Allies and the Second Armored division not only was a catalyst for Liberating Paris but decisive. I agree with the vision of some authors like Martin Blumenson “Paris had been liberated through the strength of Allied arms”. [31]Furthermore, the Germans would only surrender to the Allies. “needed the Allies to arrive soon so that he could surrender to regular forces”[32]. As this investigation shows, without the Allied support the Liberation would have been impossible.

Bibliography

Internet

· http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/august-1944-allies-liberate-paris/

· http://www.marxist.com/wwii-anniversary-two210704.htm

· http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-the-liberation-of-paris.htm/4 6/12/09

· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_of_Paris

Books

· Beevor and Cooper, “Paris after the liberation”, Penguin books 2007

· Charles De Gaulle, “Mémoires de guerre”, vol ii.

· Jackson, “France the dark years”, Oxford, New York 2003

· Pryce-Jones, “Paris in the third Reich”

Interviews

· Pierre Louis Berthelemy. Expert in French History. French nationality, Born in Uruguay.

· Pierre Gibert. Uruguayan Historian born in France

[1] The books most used are: “Paris After the Liberation” by Beevor & Cooper and “France The Dark Years” by Jackson.

[2] Commanded by General Leclerc, and organized under the US light armored division organization. The Division's 14,454 personnel included men from the 2nd Light Division, escapees from metropolitan France, about 3,600 Moroccans and Algerians, and some 3,200 Spanish Republicans

[3] The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and the collaborationist Vichy Regime during World War II

[4] Beevor and Cooper, ”Paris after the liberation”, Penguin books 2007, P. 10

[5] After the landings in Normandy and Provence, resistance combatants were organized more formally into units known as the French Forces of the Interior (FFI)

[6] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, p. 33

[7] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, p. 39

[8] When the Resistance in Paris revolted against the German Occupation on the 19th of August 1944.

[9] Jackson, “France the dark years”, Oxford, New York 2003, p. 567.

[10] http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/august-1944-allies-liberate-paris/

[11] Interview made on the 3/12/09 to Pierre Gibert Uruguayan Historian born in France

[12] http://www.marxist.com/wwii-anniversary-two210704.htm

[13] http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-the-liberation-of-paris.htm/4 6/12/09

[14] Interviewed on the 20/8/09. Expert in French History. French nationality, Born in Uruguay

[15] Military Governor of Paris during the occupation.

[16] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, P.41

[17] Following the defeat of France to the hands of the Prussian and Allied armies in 1870 a radical French government controlled most of Paris with significant destruction of human life, churches and other historical buildings including the Palace of Tuilleries

[18] http://www.parisvoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=357&Itemid=56

[19] http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=7000 7/8/09

[20] Visited on the 10/11/09

[21] Jackson, “France the dark years”, Oxford, New York 2003, p. 567

[22] Jackson, O.cit, p. 566

[23] Jackson, o.cit, p. 566

[24] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, p. 39

[25] http://www.marxist.com/wwii-anniversary-two210704.htm

[26] Jackson, O.cit, p.566

[27] one of the leaders of the Communist resistance in Paris. In June 1944, Tanguy took command of the group of French Forces of the Interior (FFI)

[28] http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/august-1944-allies-liberate-paris/

[29] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, P.41

[30] Beevor and Cooper, ”Paris after the liberation”, Penguin books 2007, p. 33

[31] www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-the-liberation-of-paris.htm/4 6/12/09

[32] Beevor and Cooper, O.Cit, P.41