The Liberation of Paris

What happened

As Allied armies broke out of Normandy and the French Resistance rose within the city, General Philippe Leclerc's Free French 2nd Armored Division and U.S. troops entered Paris. The German garrison surrendered, and General Charles de Gaulle walked down the Champs-Élysées in triumph.

Why it matters

The liberation of the French capital was a powerful symbolic and strategic victory, restoring French self-government after four years of occupation.

Sources

• The National WWII Museum. The Liberation of Paris · General source