Allied troops led by French General Jacques Leclerc marched into Paris on August 24, 1944, liberating the city from the Germans who had occupied it since June 1940. Although ordered by Adolf Hitler to leave Paris a smoldering ruin, Paris’ military governor Major General Dietrich von Cholitz lied to his superiors and left the city’s landmarks intact. By noon of August 25, the French tricolor was again flying over the French capital. Crowds of jubilant Parisians, some of whom are shown here celebrating before the Arc de Triomphe that evening, rejoiced in their freedom.
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