THE GUIDE TO OCCUPIED PARIS

Paris… the most beautiful city in the world, a city without eyes, a city of every excess, the brothel of Europe… Such is the image the German occupier has of the French capital on the morning of 14 June 1940, as his troops enter Paris without a fight. Declared an "open city" on 12 June 1940 in order to spare it from enemy bombardment, Paris is indeed intact, and the occupier discovers it in all its splendour.

An administrative centre and a privileged place of leisure for German soldiers

The Germans' installation in Paris owes nothing to chance, and their sprawling administration takes up residence in the capital's most prestigious locations, which are requisitioned and brought back into working order. The occupier favours the western part of the city, where the most prestigious monuments stand, over the more working-class districts of the east. At the same time, Wehrmacht soldiers posted to Paris — and particularly those on leave — are eager for entertainment and leisure, with cultural and recreational activity subject to no restrictions whatsoever throughout the Occupation. Everything is therefore done to maintain the reputation of the "gai Paris" so extolled by the German guidebooks of the era.

Step by step

To guide you through this Paris under the Occupation, the book takes you through the streets that Wehrmacht soldiers made echo with the sound of their hobnailed boots, past the buildings that witnessed many intrigues, scenes of daily life and dramas, and that marked Parisian life throughout those dark years. You will discover the most emblematic places, including those that are still visible and accessible, making your visit all the more captivating.

A practical reference guide, district by district, from the great flag-draped monuments to the lesser-known addresses, illustrated with original documents never before seen or published, drawn from an exceptional collection — to be consulted before any visit to the capital and carried throughout your wanderings.