La Victoire 7-9 Mai 1945 – Twelve authentic photographs documenting the joyous crowds celebrating in the streets during the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation, presented in a special folder. Published by A.F.P., Paris, 1945.
Photographs include: May 8, 15:00: The historic announcement of the Armistice at the Hôtel de Ville. Crowds dancing through the streets.
Throngs of people filling the Arc de Triomphe in moments of unity and elation.
Festivities at the Élysée Palace: A night of joy lasting until dawn.
Mass celebrations in the Place de l’Opéra: Cheers beneath the Allied flags.
Jubilant crowds greeting French and Allied convoys parading through the city.
A memorial event for the Unknown Soldier: Charles de Gaulle standing proudly among the emotional masses. Citizens eagerly reading special editions announcing Nazi Germany’s surrender. A historic moment in Reims: The German signing of the surrender agreement.
Paris, governed by Nazi Germany since the Armistice of June 1940, underwent a historic transformation in August 1944 with the surrender of the German garrison on the 25th of the month. Under the puppet regime established in Vichy, Paris endured years of occupation before its liberation, achieved through fierce street battles, civilian uprisings, and the determined actions of the Free French Army under Charles de Gaulle’s leadership. De Gaulle’s entry into Paris was an emotional and unforgettable event, marked by a grand procession along the Champs-Élysées before ecstatic crowds. Even as Nazi snipers fired shots at him, de Gaulle marched forward with confidence and determination, exuding strength and inspiring the French people. The city erupted in overwhelming joy, with dancing, singing, and spontaneous toasts filling the streets. These moments of liberation were described as “the time when Paris came back to life.”
Complete folder. Size: 11×8 cm. The photographs are numbered and captioned on the back in print. Very good condition.
