Is Paris Burning???

Thats what Hitler asked his general when Allies & French were fighting against his troops in Paris.

These days am reading this book by Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre, which relates the course of events in Paris during its occupation by Germany & its liberation during World War II.

These authors have written the facts with a personnal touch. As in they have actually had talks with many people involved in world war II & so the way they present facts is a little different from a normal history book. And many places they even mentioned what became of those people post war. This book is mostly on events in Paris & doesnt tell much about the rest of world war.

Like with any war, the civilian life during German occupation, is really sad & is poignantly described. They were occupied in 1940 & finally in 1944 they got liberated. Hitler, The German ruler was very keen on holding onto Paris [France], cuz it was in a very strategic position for his ambitions in the war & so he had given orders to hold Paris under any costs. He did not care how much destruction that involved. He had infact even given orders [& preparation were almost done] to destroy the economical/industrial structures, the bridges which connected the city, all the major structures, just everything to criple the city. This all during 1944, when the signs of resistance were starting to be seen.

He had made General Choltitz the head of Paris during this time with all these above orders. Now it was Choltitz decisions which made a major impact in history of Paris [I feel]. As in he didnt follow any of those orders of destruction given by Hitler [Though he let the preparations be done]. Even though he was suggested air bombing on the city by his other generals, he made a hold on that too. Because he wasnt in favor of destroying the city. On the contrary he wanted to save the city. Now this costed him the city though and also made him prisoner of war. But then he did save the city from all the destruction which Hitler had wanted & his conscious was clear.

Now in the liberation of Paris, there were 2 major parties, one was the follower of De Gaulle & the other was the French Communist Party. Both of the parties were interested in gaining the control of free Paris. Thankfully they had one common aim of fighting the germans. Now the Gaullist were not interested in having the insurrection in the city untill they had support from the Allies. Also the Allies wanted that the peace in Paris remain for some more time till there war plans allowed them to go into Paris to liberate it from Germans. But the situation in the city & communists started with insurrection & offcourse then the whole of the Paris got involved the insurrection. So then somehow the French leaders persuaded Allies for their help in terms of arms n people. & they wouldnt have got liberated without their help. They played a major role.

Decisions! They make such a difference in the course of events. Choltitz decided not to follow Hitler's orders n waited n took other decisions. In fact, even indirectly called Allies to enter the city. All those decisions made such a difference.

But whatever said and done, war is devastating. And still, wars make an integral part of our centuries of civilzation & history.