Taking cover, Paris, 1944. - French Forces | Gallery

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#1

Taking cover, Paris, 1944.

Members of the Paris Resistance, mainly policemen (in dark uniform) appear to take cover from snipers behind a civilian motor car in front of the façade of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. The location is not improbable; The Isle de la Cité and contiguous Left Bank were the scene of a fair bit of fighting during the Paris uprising. This photo is a little odd, however, as a French Army film crew appears to be in attendance. An immediate post-Liberation reconstruction, perhaps ? Best regards, JR.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/french-forces/52266/taking-cover-paris-1944.
#2

This is probably Aug, 26 1944. De Gaulle and the crowd marched from the Arch of Triumph down the Champs-Elysées to Notre-Dame for a mass celebrating the liberation of the city, after the official German surrender the previous day. (hence the film crew). The city wasn’t considered completely secured yet. Gunshots broke out several times along the way, even on the cathedral steps. Rooftop shooters (German soldiers or French milice) were suspected but not formerly identified and the origin of the shots remains uncertain. Perhaps just confusion from too many enthusiastic young people and guns around? In any case, it all helped cement De Gaulle’s image, as he "remained standing as many around him ran for cover as the bullets flew etc etc… "

#3