Liberation of Paris 1944

Patton’s race for the Seine

Liberation of Paris 1944 cover

Description

In July 1944 of World War II (1939-1945), Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders ignored Paris in their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the city's strategic importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to take direct action to liberate his nation's capital.

Steven J Zaloga first describes the operations of Patton's Third Army as it advanced towards Paris before focusing on the actions of the Resistance forces inside the city and of the Free French armored division that fought its way in and joined up with them to liberate it on August 24. De Gaulle could then proclaim, "Paris liberated!" and one of the world's loveliest cities had survived Hitler's strident command that it should be held at all costs or reduced to rubble.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Opposing commanders
Opposing plans
Opposing forces
The campaign

Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index

Product details

Published Apr 22 2008
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781846032462
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 65 b/w; 11 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 194
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Steven J. Zaloga

Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in History from U…

Illustrator

Howard Gerrard

Howard Gerrard studied at the Wallasey School of A…

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