Paris '44 : the city of light redeemed / William Mortimer-Moore.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mortimer-Moore, William, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements--France--Paris.

World War, 1939-1945.

World War, 1939-1945--Occupied territories.

Paris (France)--History--1944-.

Paris (France).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (609 p.)

Place of Publication:

Oxford, [England] ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Casemate, 2015.

Summary:

"A fine, racy account of the Occupation and Liberation of Paris-a rattlingly good read" (Giles MacDonogh, author of After the Reich ). During the fall of 1944, once the Western Allies had gained military advantage over the Nazis, the crown jewel of Allied strategy became the liberation of Paris-the capital of France so long held in captivity. This event, however, was steeped in more complexity when the Allies returned than in 1940 when Hitler's legions first marched in. In 1944, the city was beset by cross-currents about who was to reclaim it-the French Resistance, the long-suffering Parisians themselves, or the Anglo-American armies which had indeed won the victory. This book punctures the myth parlayed by Is Paris Burning? and other works that describe the city's liberation as mostly the result of the Resistance insurrection in the capital. Amidst the swirling streams of self-interest and intrigue that beset Paris on the eve of its liberation, this book makes clear that Gen. Leclerc and his 2nd Armored Division were the real heroes of the liberation and that marching on their capital city was their raison d'etre. At issue was the reconstitution of France itself after the dark night of its soul under the Germans, and despite the demands of the Anglo-Americans and France's own insurrectionists. That a great power was restored is now manifest, with this book explaining how it was ensured. "Gets the full five stars... The prose here really does bring wartime France to life."- War History Online

Contents:

Cover Page; Half Title Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface A Mission of National Importance; Acronyms; Dramatis Personae of Key Characters; Maps; Chapter 1 De Gaulle, the French, and the Occupation, 1940-1944; Chapter 2 D-Day-"It's Happened!"; Chapter 3 The 2e DB Lands in France; Chapter 4 Laval, Taittinger and Nordling; Chapter 5 Marianne Rises, 18-21 August; Chapter 6 Rol-Tanguy Takes the Initiative; Chapter 7 Paris Saved, 22-25 August; Chapter 8 The Man of 18 June Arrives; Epilogue; Acknowledgements; Source Notes; Select Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed February 19, 2016).

ISBN:

9781612003443

1612003443