70 Years Ago Today
On this day in 1944, US and French forces completed the liberation of Paris.
The liberation of Paris began with a general strike starting on 15 August 1944, while still under German control. On 19 August, French Forces of the Interior (FFI, AKA La Résistance) in Paris began operations against German forces.
On 24 August, Allied forces entered Paris, reinforcing the FFI. The French 2nd Armored Division entered the western part of the city; the US 4th Infantry Division entered the eastern portions.
On 25 August, remaining German forces in Paris surrendered.
Militarily, the capture of Paris was probably of minor importance. Psychologically, however, it was hugely important – especially for our French allies.
Tonight, perhaps over dinner or during the evening, take a moment to remember those events of 70 years ago. On that day freedom was restored to the capital our oldest ally – one instrumental in securing our own freedom over 160 years earlier.
Category: Historical
And 69 years and 364 days ago a French waiter became a national hero when he refused to give an American ketchup and a coke wi.th his meal
Screw you Messkit … You beat me to the French waiter joke.
General Strike in ole’ Paris at a lovely cafe:
Nazi Officer: I will have a coffee and toast.
French Waiter: I spit in your general direction. I will not serve you.
Nazi Officer: I said, coffee and toast (while drawing his weapon).
French Waiter: Milk or cream with your coffee?
All kidding aside, in large part and without the help of the French and one of my favorite foreign heros, General Lafayette … we would not be the United States of America.
My first in Commodore Barry the real “Father of the US Navy”.
And NO … it was not Captain John Paul Jones.
Speaking of stolen valor, I read somewhere that for every Frenchman who actually took up arms against the Nazis and/or Vichy, there were fifteen arrogant lying frogs who claimed to.
Bust their balls all you want, and many times rightly so, but never forget there’s more than one French village or town either seriously damaged or simply wiped off the map because of that war.
You can’t say that about too many towns in America, and if you could, well….