The story
Crowds of French patriots line the Champs Elysees to view Free French tanks and half tracks of General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division passes through the Arc du Triomphe, after Paris was liberated on August 26, 1944. Among the crowd can be seen banners in support of Charles de Gaulle.
French M3A3 light tanks of De Gaulle's personal protection unit move abreast down the Champs Elysees
General Leclerc and the troops of the 2nd DB, August 26, 1944 on the Champs-Elysées after the liberation of Paris (AFP / File - Georges Melamed)
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.