The Remarkable Maneuver: How General Leclerc Succeeded in Reaching Paris Before the Americans
General Charles de Gaulle’s famous quotation that “Paris was liberated by itself, by its people,” has been widely cited. However, the complexities of this historical episode reveal a more intricate tale filled with unique strategies and personalities. This story is meticulously detailed in Dominique Lapierre’s bestseller “Is Paris Burning,” but certain aspects are often overlooked, as will be explored in this article.
The Allied Strategy and General Eisenhower’s Decisions
During the waning days of World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, had an intricate planning process. Originally, he had a directive to bypass Paris to shield his supply lines from the pressures of supplying the city's population. This plan was hinged upon the belief that Paris could hold out long enough for strategic reasons, until the critical lines of communication and supply were secured.
General Leclerc’s Urgent Mission and the 9th Regiment ‘La Nueve’
However, as the situation escalated, the dynamics on the ground began to shift. The heroic resistance fighters, or “résistants,” actively engaged in combat against the German forces, creating significant disruptions and demonstrations of determination that could not be ignored. Faced with the prospect of Paris’s possible destruction and the civil morale of the city potentially eroding without Allied action, Eisenhower relented and granted authorization for a swift move by General Leclerc and his elite 9th Regiment “La Nueve.”
This unit comprised Spanish Republican fighters, a contingent that offered a tangible connection to the broader struggle against Fascism. As a result, the tanks entering Paris were named after significant battles in the Spanish Civil War: “Madrid,” “Teruel,” “Guadalajara,” and “Don Quijotte.” Despite their unfamiliarity with the Parisian terrain, the 9th Regiment managed to cover considerable ground. It took an hour for their tanks to traverse from the Porte d’Italie to the Hotel de Ville, the headquarters of the Parisian resistance fighters.
The Strategic Impacts and the Role of the Insurgents
The swift arrival of Leclerc's forces created a psychological impact on the German forces. Believing that the Allies were on the verge of entering the city, the German garrison under General Von Choltitz quickly capitulated. Contrary to the expectation of bloodshed, this timely intervention led to a relatively peaceful liberation. The capitulation document, sigmoid to reveal the extent of collaboration, bore signatures from both General Leclerc and Colonel Henri Rol Tanguy, a communist leader of the Paris insurgents.
De Gaulle’s Reception and the Political Arena
When de Gaulle arrived at the Hotel de Ville, he delivered his celebrated speech, “Paris a enduré toute la cruelle épreuve mais d’arond, Paris reste libératif, libre par ses propres efforts, Ia libération de Ia France d’arond, celle de toute une France, participant à ce combat qui est le sien et du sien, de l'immortel, de l’eternal Paris.” (Paris has endured the cruel test, but from now on, Paris is liberated, has liberated itself, by its own population, by the fighting France, by all of France, of eternal France.)
The speech highlighted the city’s resilience and the contributions of the French people, barely acknowledging the pivotal role of the Allied forces. The absence of any mention of the American and other Allied troops is a noteworthy omission. Beyond the acknowledgments, the article also underscores the forgotten heroism of the Spanish Republican fighters who led the charge. Their contribution was later recognized by a street sign at the location of their entry into Paris (20 Rue Esquirol, 75013).
Furthermore, the tension between General de Gaulle and General Leclerc remains a thrilling aspect of this history. Leclerc faced criticism from de Gaulle for allowing Rol Tanguy to sign the German capitulation document. This incident reflected the political and military tensions within the liberated France. During a later public ceremony on the Champs Elysées, one might notice the presence of political figures like Georges Bidault, who would later be de Gaulle’s Foreign Minister, and André le Troquer, the future President of the House of Deputies. Later in life, the latter was even convicted for his involvement with underage girls.
This nuanced understanding of one of the most pivotal moments in modern French history reveals not only the strategic feats but also the personal dynamics and political implications that shaped the Paris Liberation’s legacy.