German forces entered Paris without resistance on June 14, 1940, marking the beginning of a four-year Nazi occupation that transformed the French capital into a stronghold of German military power in Western Europe.

The fall of Paris to Nazi Germany in June 1940 marked one of the most significant moments of World War II. After launching their invasion of France on May 10, 1940, German forces swiftly advanced through the country with their highly effective blitzkrieg tactics. The swift military campaign left the French government and its allies struggling to mount an effective defense.

On June 14, 1940, German troops entered Paris without resistance, as French leaders had already declared it an "open city" to prevent its destruction. The Nazi occupation would last four years, transforming the City of Light into a stronghold of German military power in Western Europe. This dark chapter in French history saw the establishment of a puppet government in Vichy while the German Wehrmacht turned Paris into its western headquarters.

Nazi Germany launched Case Yellow (Fall Gelb) on May 10, 1940, marking the start of a devastating military campaign that led to France's defeat in just six weeks.

The German offensive targeted the Low Countries with 141 divisions comprising 2.5 million troops. Three army groups advanced through Belgium Luxembourg the Netherlands utilizing innovative military tactics:

• Panzer divisions bypassed the Maginot Line through the Ardennes Forest
• Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed Allied airfields rail networks communications
• Combined arms tactics coordinated tanks aircraft infantry movements
• Mobile warfare prevented Allied forces from establishing defensive positions

German Forces	Allied Forces
2.5M troops	3.3M troops
2,439 tanks	3,254 tanks
5,638 aircraft	2,935 aircraft

• Command posts lost contact with frontline units by May 15
• 500,000 French soldiers surrendered at Dunkirk between May 26-June 4
• French generals failed to adapt to modern mobile warfare tactics
• The 7th Army collapsed on May 16 creating a 50-mile gap in Allied lines
• Prime Minister Paul Reynaud resigned on June 16 leading to armistice negotiations

Timeline	Key Events
May 10	German invasion begins
May 15	Dutch forces surrender
May 27	Belgian forces surrender
June 14	Paris falls to German forces
June 22	France signs armistice

The Battle of France marked a decisive German military campaign that unfolded between May 10 and June 25, 1940. German forces executed a swift offensive strategy that led to the collapse of Allied defenses in just six weeks.

Operation Case Yellow (Fall Gelb) launched on May 10, 1940, with German forces attacking through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The operation involved:

• 141 German divisions against 135 French divisions and 12 British divisions
• 2,500 tanks and 5,600 aircraft in the Luftwaffe arsenal
• Coordinated attacks on Allied airfields disabling 1,300 aircraft in the first week
• Feint operations in the Low Countries drawing Allied forces north while main forces prepared to strike through the Ardennes

Force Distribution	German Forces	Allied Forces
Infantry Divisions	141	147
Tanks	2,500	3,384
Aircraft	5,600	3,791

• 7 Panzer divisions moving through dense forest terrain on May 12
• 1,222 tanks crossing the Meuse River near Sedan by May 14
• A 50-mile breakthrough gap creating a corridor to the Channel coast
• XIX Panzer Corps under Guderian advancing 250 miles in just 11 days
• Encirclement of Allied forces at Dunkirk following the successful crossing

German forces marched into Paris on June 14, 1940, encountering no military resistance. The Nazi occupation marked the first time since 1871 that foreign troops controlled the French capital.

The Wehrmacht's 18th Army entered Paris through the northern suburbs at 5:30 AM on June 14, 1940. German soldiers paraded down the Champs-Élysées while raising the Nazi flag atop the Eiffel Tower within hours of their arrival. The occupation force consisted of 320,000 troops who systematically secured strategic locations including:

• Government buildings in the 7th arrondissement

• Major railway stations: Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est

• Communication centers across the city

• Key bridges over the Seine River

• Military installations throughout Paris

• Prime Minister Paul Reynaud's resignation on June 16

• Marshal Philippe Pétain's appointment as head of state

• Establishment of the new capital at Vichy on July 1

• Creation of the collaborationist Vichy regime through Constitutional Acts

Location	Date of Relocation	Duration of Stay
Paris	Until June 10	Capital city
Tours	June 10-13	3 days
Bordeaux	June 14-29	15 days
Vichy	July 1 onwards	4 years

The German occupation of Paris transformed daily life in the French capital from June 1940 to August 1944. Nazi forces implemented strict control measures while maintaining a facade of normalcy in the city's cultural life.

The Military Command in France (Militärbefehlshaber in Frankreich) established headquarters at the Hotel Majestic on Avenue Kléber. German authorities implemented a curfew from 9 PM to 5 AM enforced by 320,000 Wehrmacht troops stationed throughout Paris. The administration:

• Seized 2,700 French military vehicles for Wehrmacht use
• Requisitioned 85,000 private apartments for German personnel
• Controlled all radio broadcasts through Radio Paris
• Established checkpoints at 20 major intersections
• Imposed strict censorship on newspapers media publications

German forces maintained separate command structures:

Authority	Responsibility
Wehrmacht	Military control
Gestapo	Political policing
SS	Racial policies
Abwehr	Intelligence operations

Parisians faced severe restrictions under German rule with significant changes to their daily routines:

• Food rationing limited daily bread allowance to 275 grams per person
• Mandatory blackouts started at sunset
• Required identity papers (ausweis) for travel beyond city limits
• Currency exchange fixed at 20 francs per Reichsmark
• Banned gatherings of more than 3 people in public spaces

Essential commodities became scarce:

Item	Monthly Ration 1941
Meat	250g
Sugar	500g
Coffee	125g
Soap	100g
Coal	30kg

The black market emerged as a crucial survival mechanism with prices 5-10 times higher than official rates. Restaurants operated under strict regulations serving limited menus while cultural venues remained open under German supervision.

The Liberation of Paris marked a critical turning point in World War II, occurring between August 19-25, 1944, when Allied forces freed the city from German occupation.

Operation Overlord's success in Normandy enabled Allied forces to advance toward Paris in August 1944. The U.S. 2nd Armored Division joined with the French 2nd Armored Division, led by General Philippe Leclerc, forming a powerful force of 70,000 troops equipped with 500 tanks. General Dwight Eisenhower initially planned to bypass Paris to maintain momentum toward Germany, yet changed course when intelligence revealed the uprising within the city. On August 24, the Allied forces entered Paris through multiple routes, engaging German defenders at key strongpoints including the Palais du Luxembourg, Hôtel de Ville and École Militaire.

The French Resistance initiated the liberation through coordinated attacks on August 19, 1944. Operating under the leadership of Henri Rol-Tanguy, 20,000 resistance fighters seized police stations, government buildings and newspaper offices, establishing control of strategic positions throughout Paris. The resistance fighters, known as FFI (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur), constructed 600 barricades across the city, disrupting German movements and communications. Their actions prevented German commander Dietrich von Choltitz from executing Hitler's orders to destroy Paris's major monuments and bridges, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre.

Liberation of Paris Statistics
Duration of Liberation	August 19-25, 1944
Allied Forces	70,000 troops
French Resistance Fighters	20,000 members
Barricades Constructed	600
German Casualties	3,200
French Civilian Casualties	1,700

• German forces occupied Paris on June 14, 1940, after a swift six-week military campaign known as Case Yellow (Fall Gelb).
• The occupation began without resistance, as Paris had been declared an "open city" by French leaders to prevent its destruction.
• German forces entered Paris with 320,000 troops, securing strategic locations and establishing military control through the Wehrmacht, Gestapo, SS, and Abwehr.
• During the four-year occupation (1940-1944), Parisians faced strict regulations including curfews, food rationing, and mandatory identity papers.
• The Liberation of Paris occurred between August 19-25, 1944, through combined efforts of Allied forces and French Resistance fighters, ending the German occupation.

The German occupation of Paris stands as one of World War II's most significant events marking both military triumph and human tragedy. Nazi forces' swift capture of the French capital on June 14 1940 demonstrated the effectiveness of their blitzkrieg strategy while forever changing the lives of Parisians.

The four-year occupation transformed Paris into a center of German power in Western Europe until the city's dramatic liberation in August 1944. This period serves as a powerful reminder of war's impact on civilian populations and the resilience of those who endured occupation while fighting for freedom.

The story of Paris under Nazi control remains a testament to the devastating consequences of modern warfare and the importance of preserving democracy and peace.