TODAY IN HISTORY: The Liberation of Paris from Nazi Occupation (Aug. 25, 1944)

On August 25, 1944, Paris celebrated liberation from Nazi occupation—a historic moment that echoed the city’s own revolutionary spirit seen in the Storming of the Bastille over 150 years earlier. Paris had been under Nazi control since June 1940, with the German forces collaborating closely with the Vichy regime. For years, the French Resistance fought a brave yet uphill battle, striking back through clandestine operations and guerrilla tactics.

As Allied forces advanced toward the French capital in August 1944, hope surged among Parisians. General Philippe Leclerc of Free France ordered heavy artillery into the city, while a surrender ultimatum was delivered to the German commander, General Dietrich von Choltitz. Though Hitler had commanded the destruction of Paris, von Choltitz defied the order, opting to surrender on August 25, preserving the city from ruin. The very next day, Charles de Gaulle entered Paris, reclaiming the city for France.

The liberation of Paris felt deeply symbolic—a reclaiming of freedom that echoed the revolutionary fervor of July 14, 1789, when Parisians stormed the Bastille, igniting the French Revolution. Just as Parisians then rose against oppression, they once again witnessed their city freed from the grip of tyranny, bringing hope and a renewed sense of resilience to the people of France.