On August 25, 1944, after four years of occupation, Paris did something quintessentially Parisian: it refused to wait. A week of strikes, barricades, and firefights erupted into liberation as Leclerc’s 2e Division Blindée (2nd Armored Division) and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division rolled in. That afternoon the German commander, General Dietrich von Choltitz, surrendered—Paris was spared the destruction Hitler had ordered. The next day, de Gaulle walked the length of the Champs-Élysées to restore the city's spirit.
De Gaulle insisted that the French liberated themselves, which was not an unreasonable position for someone in his positions, but others point out that Eisenhower had something to do with it. Still, his brief speech was inspiring, even if you don't understand the French.
“Paris outraged! Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated!”
—Charles de Gaulle, August 25, 1944
The week in four beats
Aug 19: Paris police and Resistance rise. Strikes shut down the city; barricades go up.
Night of Aug 24: The first armored elements of Leclerc’s division reach Hôtel de Ville just before midnight.
Aug 25 (afternoon): Von Choltitz surrenders; orders to reduce Paris to ruins are not carried out.
Aug 26: De Gaulle’s march down the Champs-Élysées anchors a new political reality.
A 60–90 minute “Liberation Loop” (walking tour)
A compact loop you can walk and photograph today.
Hôtel de Ville (Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 4e)
Stand at mid-plaza, face the façade, and read the famous line aloud. Note the commemorative plaques near the main entrance.Hôtel Meurice (228 Rue de Rivoli, 1er)
Outside this elegant façade sat the German HQ. The first surrender to French forces was acknowledged here. From the arcades, look across to the Tuileries for perspective photos.Gare Montparnasse (Hall Maine, 15e)
Leclerc established a command post here; terms and formalities associated with the capitulation passed through this station. (Yes: same station as the 1895 runaway train photo—different drama!)Musée de la Libération de Paris — Musée du Général Leclerc — Musée Jean Moulin (Place Denfert-Rochereau, 14e)
Built above the underground HQ of Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, the Resistance commander in Paris. Plan 30–45 minutes; the bunker rooms are the highlight. Admission is typically free; verify current hours before you go.
Optional add-on: Place du 25-Août-1944 (Porte d’Orléans, 14e) — a modest but resonant square marking the date and the southern entry of French armor.
Why Paris survived
Hitler’s retreat order demanded a “field of ruins” if Paris could not be held. Von Choltitz, facing an uprising he could not suppress and an Allied advance he could not stop, did not blow the bridges or monuments. Historians still debate whether it was conscience, calculation, or both—but the decision spared the city we know.
Charles de Gaulle's famous speech on the day Paris was liberated from the Germans. Dramatic even if you don't speak French.
Detailed story from the National World War II Museum
Thanks for reading!
John Pearce
Washington
If Parisian history—especially the wartime years—intrigues you, you’ll likely enjoy my Paris-set thriller Treasure of Saint-Lazare and the upcoming novella Paris Fling. Different genres, same city I love to walk.