In the summer of 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy and southern France, beginning the liberation of France from Nazi occupation. Rare colour footage recorded by cameramen including Hollywood directors George Stevens and William Wyler captures D-Day, the fighting in Normandy and the advance toward Paris.
The images show Allied troops at Juno, Utah and Omaha Beach, the battles around Caen and Cherbourg, German prisoners, destroyed towns and encounters between soldiers and French civilians. War correspondents Jack Lieb, Ernie Pyle and Robert Capa also documented the campaign as Allied forces pushed eastward.
By August, French forces entered Paris and General Dietrich von Choltitz surrendered the city. In September 1944, virtually all of France was free again, while fighting continued in Alsace and Lorraine.
These colour archives offer a direct record of the liberation of France and the people who witnessed it.
Documentary: The Third Reich in Color EP3 : The liberation of France
Directed by: Michael kloft
Production: SPIEGEL TV (2021)
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