Posted 12 years ago
Ted_Straub
(992 items)
These WWII photos show The German Army in Paris. There were no markings on these, but the 2nd photo shows soldiers near the opera house, the third depicts a parade in front of the Arc de Triomphe, and the third shows a staff car with Sacre Couer in the background.
If these locations are in error, please advise me. And if anyone can ID the soldiers and their groups, please post...thank you!
Comments 6 through 8 by chrisnp, and vetraio50 add a lot to the locations' history and identification. Thank you both very much!
And blunderbuss2 poses an interesting question!!!!!
Thank you, Bellin68. These photos have impressed me deeply. They appear to be have been taken by a civilian, and are well captured.
These came from a box lot at an auction. I have others posted, and will post more of WWII (non military) Europe. I wonder if posting photos of Adolf Hitler is allowed? I have one from cigarette cards where he wears civilian clothes.
All the pictures of the occupation appear to show the Germans marching around the Arc de Triomphe but not thru it. Has anybody seen them march tru it? A sign of respect?
Blunderbuss, that it is a good question...I hope that the answer has not been lost to time. Worse yet, Id'd rather have the question not answered, than have it distorted over time. It was a long time ago, and who knows if this time would distort the truth?
I just recalled, that someone told me that under The Arc Triomphe lies the Tomb of the Unknown French Soldier. If this is true, then I am quite confident that the German Army would respect this site. I hope that someone can clear this up for us.
Thank you for your question, and for your love on these photos!
Thank you all for your loves on these photos!
Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!
Hi Ted, just out of curiosity, I checked Wiki and got this:
"Following its construction, the Arc de Triomphe became the rallying point of French troops parading after successful military campaigns and for the annual Bastille Day Military Parade. Famous victory marches around or under the Arc have included the Germans in 1871, the French in 1919, the Germans in 1940, and the French and Allies in 1944[10] and 1945."..."After the interment of the Unknown Soldier, however, all military parades (including the aforementioned post-1919) have avoided marching through the actual arch. The route taken is up to the arch and then around its side, out of respect for the tomb and its symbolism. Both Hitler in 1940 and de Gaulle in 1944 observed this custom."
Thank you Chrisnp. I had noticed in pics where German troops appeared to march around it & have wondered for years.
Now can you explain why people always eat crackers with the salted side up, as if they are afraid the salt will fall off?
The first photo shows La Madeleine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Madeleine,_Paris
The Madeleine Church was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army. To its south lies the Place de la Concorde, to the east is the Place Vendôme, and to the west L'église Saint-Augustin.
Number 2 is la Place de l'Opéra:
The Place de l'Opéra is a square in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at the junction of boulevard des Italiens, boulevard des Capucines, avenue de l'Opéra, rue Auber, rue Halévy, rue de la Paix and rue du Quatre-Septembre. It was built at the same time as the Opéra Garnier (designed by Charles Garnier), which is sited on it and after which it is named. Both structures were part of the Haussmannian redesign of Paris under Napoleon III of France.
This photo was taken at the corner of the boulevard des Capucines and the avenue de l'Opéra.
Number 3 the Arc de Triomphe and number 4 is as you say The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in the background. The position for this one is at the corner of Rue Norvins. The hotel on the corner is today called La Bohème. The officer is looking over on the right to what is called La Place du Tertre. These days it is filled with hawkers selling paintings of the area and for the tourists to sit and dine there's La Crémaillière has been there since 1900:
http://www.cremaillere1900.com/presentation.htm
That's quite a coverage! Now, have the French ever been able to use it "in their own right"?
Tourism as invasion? Good point blunderbuss.
The beginning of the 20th century version of a European Union after Napoleon, the Romans etc.
Or let's have a battle somewhere: how about Belgium?
Test a nuclear device: the Pacific!
These comments are all great...lively conversations are always appreciated!!!!
Thank you all for your loves and comments on these photos!!!!