Adolf Hitler, Der Fuehrer his very own self stopped by Paris for a few hours to gaze and gawk a bit on today's date, June 23 in 1940. He had a full schedule of things that he wanted to see, but he was there for just a few hours that morning, and that was it. He left promptly and never came back. All the better for the people of Paris one might say, but there it was. Evidently the man was as odd as he was evil. Now I should say right off that I've run into several other internet sources saying that Hitler's visit came on the 24th, the 25th, and also the 21st. But I've found more saying the 23rd was the date than others citing another date so that is the one I'm going with. Forgive me if I've gotten it wrong.
Hitler Arrives on the Spot
The Germans blew through the French defenses without too much trouble and and the French wound up surrendering to the Germans on June 22, 1940 on the very spot where Germany had had to surrender to France at the end of World War I. In fact Hitler had the railway car of Marshall Foch (the General who had beaten the Germans in 1918) hauled to the spot in Compiegne Forest wherein the 1918 ceremony had taken place and took the French armistice there, not wanting to pass up this chance to rub salt into the wounds of his enemies. He subsequently had the memorial sight destroyed. Hitler also ordered the destruction of two other memorials: one of French War Hero General Mangin and one of Edith Cavell a nurse who helped Allied troops to escape the Germans in World One. Now that he had destroyed these little details, Hitler had a few other things to do.
Der Fuehrer Decides to Have a Look at Paris
Albert Speer, whom Hitler referred as his "colleague" in matters of Art and Architecture was informed by the Little Corporal himself that he wished tour the French capitol in a few days, and that he wanted Speer as part of his entourage. So at 5:30 a.m. the plane carrying Hitler and his Henchmen arrived at Le Bourget airport near Paris and they all piled into three large Mercedes sedans (with Hitler seated as usual next to the driver) and drove through streets largely unoccupied at such an early hour. They went directly to Paris Opera House - a great neobaroque building designed by Charles
Off to the Eiffel Tower!
Next the Motorcade proceeded past the Rue Madeline, on down the Champs Elysees, and on to the Eiffel Tower. Hitler seemed in the film of this event to be one more tourist looking the place over; not overly impressed as he moved among his cronies. From the Arc de Triomphe which included
France's Tomb of the Uknown Soldier, Hitler's caravan move onto L'Invalides there to gaze upon the tomb of Napoleon (the Original Little Corporal)which he spent some time doing. He later ordered that the remains of Napoleon's son to be re-interred alongside of his Dad. Hitler was much impressed by the Pantheon, but had no great interest in the most significant architectural works in Paris: the Place des Vosges, the Palace of Justice, and the Louvre. The only sight he got into was the unitary row of houses on the fashionable Rue de Rivoli. After taking in a few more churches, Hitler had everyone back at airport by 9:00 a.m.. It was one of the greatest cities in world, but after less than three hours this man had had his fill. Nevertheless he later gushed to Speer: "It was the dream of my life to be permitted to see Paris. I cannot say how happy I am to have that dream fulfilled today."
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