The main force of Leclerc's 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division entered Paris on the morning of the 25th. There was fierce resistance near the Invalides and the École Militaire, in which some French soldiers were killed and tanks destroyed. By the end of the morning, the Germans had been overcome and a large French tricolor flag was hoisted on the Eiffel Tower. [1]
WOOLFORCE enter Paris alongside The French Vangaurd of the 2nd Armored Division (French: 2e Division Blindée, 2e DB) entering the city ahead of any other British or American units.
They take 650 prisoners from the Kriegsmarine HQ Hôtel de la Marine.
This former palace served as headquarters of the Kriegsmarine during the German occupation and was a German stronghold during the Battle of Paris (19-25 August 1944).
Capt Pike RM is the 1st to drink in the Ritz Hotel Paris
During the summer of 1940, the Luftwaffe, the air forces of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, set up their headquarters at the Ritz, with their chief Hermann Göring.
Hemmingway would later claim to have liberated it;
The manager of the hotel, Claude Auzello, approached him and Hemingway demanded: "Where are the Germans? I have come to liberate the Ritz."
"Monsieur," the manager replied: "They left a long time ago. And I cannot let you enter with a weapon."
Royal Marines Related 'Dits'
References/ Further Reading
30 AU website - https://www.30au.co.uk/
30 AU on X - @IHistorical
Wikipedia - Paris in World War II
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