70ème anniversaire de la libération de Paris

June 6, 2014 12:02 PM

50 photos de la Libération de Paris se fondent dans le présent. [Via]

Google translation of the first paragraph:

The liberation of Paris was held from 19 to 25 August 1944. This episode ends four years of occupation of the French capital. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Paris, I decided to immerse myself in the end of August 1944 to achieve this before-after some places this event which marks Paris forever. I looked for vintage photographs from old books, magazines, and on eBay where many documents appear. It was a pretty moving experience, a kind of awareness of this historic event. Imagine the courage of these men and women of all ages, and all won by the infinite thirst for freedom finally at hand. Difficult this year 2014 project into the skin of a young Parisian this time. What would I do? Impossible to say as emotions should be at their peak. Photos in hand and camera on the shoulder, so I toured Paris in search of the places photographed 70 years earlier by anonymous and famous photographers like Robert Doisneau, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Roger-Viollet and Robert Capa. Here are my 50 photos along with some quotes from the lyrics of the song "Paris angry" (1966) by M.Mathieu. Photos and text colors: Julien Knez.

Mireille Mathieu - Paris en Colère

Related: Link to the Past - Paris (previously).

Ghosts of War - France (previously).

posted by homunculus (16 comments total)

Excellent post. As a friend of mine once remarked 'il y avait beaucoup de pipes ce jour-là.'
posted by TheTingTangTong at 12:33 PM on June 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

I came here just now to make this post. The one on D-Day's 70th anniversary. Today. It would be overkill now. Different links, and maybe a story about how 28th June 2014 will be the 100th anniversary of Sarajevo aka Franz Ferdinand's assassination and what does it all mean now, decades and a century later, and look, the Queen is still alive!

Because its 6th June, know what they were fighting. this set has been heavily curated, for reasons. Also, thank you hat_eater
posted by infini at 12:41 PM on June 6, 2014

Any photography buffs want to comment on this picture? How do you get the pillar correctly aligned and (almost) scaled correctly yet have the building in the distance misaligned?
posted by flyingfox at 1:01 PM on June 6, 2014

Very nice, thanks.
posted by ersatz at 1:03 PM on June 6, 2014

Merci beaucoup!
posted by cool breeze at 1:08 PM on June 6, 2014

Boy, the Parisians sure do love their barricades.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:15 PM on June 6, 2014

Any photography buffs want to comment on this picture? How do you get the pillar correctly aligned and (almost) scaled correctly yet have the building in the distance misaligned?

The older photo was shot with a wider-angle/shorter lens.
posted by LionIndex at 1:16 PM on June 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

I came here just now to make this post. The one on D-Day's 70th anniversary. Today.

This one is specific to the liberation of Paris, which happened in August 1944. I think you can go ahead and make your D-Day post if you like.
posted by homunculus at 1:47 PM on June 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

Nah, 70th anniversary of the same war, almost a double ;p different battle, one was the invasion, this the victory.

i.e. you're commemorating it already and that's what is important
posted by infini at 2:01 PM on June 6, 2014

I really like this; thank you for sharing it. "Madame Briant" was my favorite!
posted by wenestvedt at 5:45 PM on June 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

Actually, a good post on the FFI would be very interesting.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:45 PM on June 6, 2014

Loved gazing at those 50 photos, thank you, imagining myself there. Well, only in the féte ones. My favourite was Degaulle from afar, at the window of the Hôtel de Ville. Most iconic.

Coincidentally, I just finished reading "Suite Française" by Irène Némirovsky, which takes us through the beginning of the German occupation of France, in two novellas that were written by the author while she lived through it.

The first begins in Paris, June 1940, with families packing and squabbling as they get out of town before the Germans arrive. The second explores life in a village occupied by German soldiers, from the time they arrive to their departure for Russia three months later.

Not a fictionalised diary but solid stories superbly written with insight and wit. The author planned more volumes, but perished in Auschwitz. The manuscript was only recently discovered. Wikipedia article.
posted by valetta at 12:07 AM on June 7, 2014

FFI

What is FFI?
posted by infini at 12:58 AM on June 7, 2014

The FFI was the French resistance, renamed French Forces of the Interior as the battle for liberation entered its decisive phase.
posted by valetta at 1:29 AM on June 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:11 AM on June 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Merci Bijou.
posted by valetta at 10:27 PM on June 8, 2014