Paris brise ses chaines! (Paris Breaks its Chains)
Paris: Imprimerie Paul Dupont, 1944. First edition. Softcover. Octavo. 31 (1)pp. Original illustrated wraps with red and white lettering to cover, protected by modern mylar. Cover design and title vignettes for each chapter depicting the fighting in various arrondissements by René Brantonne. Epic of the 20 arrondissements and the suburbs in the days of August 19 to 25, 1944. Written and published one month after the event this booklet is the first detailed account of the fighting for the liberation of Paris, district by district and including the suburbs. The liberation of Paris took place from August 19th to 25th, 1944. While the Allied troops - landing in Normandy in June - advance east and take the Falaise pocket (August 12-21), a popular insurrection is organized and led by the Resistance in the capital.
The subway and gendarmerie (August 13), the police (August 15), and the post office (August 16) began to strike which then turned in a a general strike on August 18. Under the command of Rol-Tanguy and Chaban-Delmas, various poorly equipped groups set up barricades, organized ambushes and provoked real fighting to harass the occupiers, e.g. at the police headquarters on August 19th. On August 23rd the insurgents controlled nearly a third of the city, however, their situation was very precarious due to lack of support and ammunition. In view of the circumstances and under pressure from French officials, the Allies under American commend decided to liberate the capital (Originally the plan was to bypass the capital to continue their march towards the East more quickly). At the head of the 2nd Armored Division, General Leclerc managed to enter the city on August 24 through the Porte d'Orléans, precipitating the surrender of Dietrich von Choltitz (the last commander of Nazi-occupied Paris) on August 25. Text in French. Very good condition. Item #47831
Price: $150.00