The Liberation of Paris by René Zuber
An exclusive and largely unpublished historical photographic record
19 April 2024
August 2024 will mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. To mark this occasion, we offer an exclusive selection of 160 photographs, almost all previously unpublished, for regional exclusive licensing on a first come, first served basis.
After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris was liberated by the French 2nd Armored Division and the US 4th Infantry Division in a battle that ran from 19 - 25 August 1944. By August 18, Allied forces were closing in on Paris as Resistance fighters emerged from hiding and began attacking German forces. In the following days, some 20,000 German troops surrendered, fled, or were overcome. On the morning of August 25, the 2nd Armored Division cleared the west of the city while the 4th Infantry Division cleared the east, and Paris was liberated.
René Zuber witnessed the Liberation of Paris from many angles. His images are from different parts of Paris - notably in and around Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Hôtel de Ville and the Place de la Concorde - but also in the 15th and 17th arrondissements. Zuber's proximity to the unfolding events offers us the reality of the final battles, glimpses of curious and hopeful civilians, and the jubilant crowd as they celebrate the victory of the Allied troops and their own freedom.
You can view the series here.
About the photographer:
René Zuber, photographer and filmmaker, was born in the Doubs region of France in 1902. He discovered New Objectivity photography whilst studying at the Academy of Graphic Arts and Book Trade in Leipzig, Germany. On his return to Paris in 1929, Zuber started an advertising photography agency.
After founding the Studio Zuber in 1932, with Pierre Boucher and Denise Bellon among others, he co-founded the Alliance Photo agency with Maria Eisner and Pierre Boucher in 1934. His reports were widely published in the French and international press, notably Vu, Regards and Match. At the same time, Zuber developed a career as a documentary filmmaker and founded Les Films du Compas with Roger Leenhardt.
View of Notre-Dame Cathedral from the Quai Saint-Michel, at the corner of the Petit-Pont (now Petit-Pont-Cardinal-Lustiger). In the foreground, wrecked vehicles. AKG10793408 © René Zuber / akg-images
Two men carrying something together and another armed man run down the Rue Pierre Sarrazin, towards the Rue Hautefeuille. In the background, the east facade of the Museum of the History of Medicine. AKG10792617 © René Zuber / akg-images
A tank of General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division advances along the Boulevard Saint-Michel, at no. 57, seen from the Rue Monsieur Le Prince. AKG10778585 © René Zuber / akg-images
Three women and a man watch what is happening in the street, sheltered in an an entranceway. AKG10620261 © René Zuber / akg-images
Stretcher-bearers of the Red Cross in action in the Rue Monsieur Le Prince, at no. 64, just before the intersection with the Boulevard Saint-Michel. AKG10620254 © René Zuber / akg-images
Armed Parisians take cover behind a small barricade and a corner of the building at the intersection of Rue de Seine, Square Honoré Champion and 3, Quai Malaquais, looking out over the Quai Malaquais towards the Pont du Carrousel. AKG10620263 © René Zuber / akg-images
A Wehrmacht soldier arrested near the Hôtel de Ville. AKG10620245 © René Zuber / akg-images
Wounded young German prisoner of war near the Hotel de Ville. AKG10620247 © René Zuber / akg-images
A shorn woman on the right of the photograph is surrounded and booed by a crowd of Parisians. In the foreground, soldiers from General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division with their all-terrain vehicle. AKG10780363 © René Zuber / akg-images
At the junction of rue Saint Jacques and boulevard Saint Germain, a barricade was erected in rue Saint Jacques. In the distance, you can see the historic tower of the Sorbonne Observatory on rue Saint Jacques. AKG10780342 © René Zuber / akg-images
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Anne Marie Dalmaso, known as Anita, was born in Rovereto, Italy, in December 1922. She arrived in Paris in 1939 and was a member of the National Teams of Young Rescuers. Arrested for acts of resistance, Anita was imprisoned for sixteen months before being released. She was one of the soldiers who defended the Hôtel de Ville in August 1944. In these images, she is seen aiding a German soldier shot dead by the FFI.
Nurse Anita, holding the hand - removing or replacing the ring - of a wounded man lying on the ground. AKG10620248 © René Zuber / akg-images
Nurse Anita treating a wounded German, 21 August 1944. She is wearing an armband from the Commissariat Général à la Jeunesse - Équipes Nationales. AKG10792620 © René Zuber / akg-images
Tanks of General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division advancing across the Petit-Pont (now the Petit-Pont-Cardinal-Lustiger), towards the Rue de la Cité and Notre-Dame Cathedral. AKG10778567 © René Zuber / akg-images
Young men and women climbed onto a tank of General Leclerc's 2nd Armoured Division to share their joy with the soldiers. AKG10778568 © René Zuber / akg-images
Nurses in white uniform smile and talk to soldiers on a tank. AKG10778570 © René Zuber / akg-images
The civilian population joins the soldiers near their tanks to celebrate the victory. AKG10792616 © René Zuber / akg-images
The crowd in the Rue de Rivoli, at no. 68, watches what is happening on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. AKG10792615 © René Zuber / akg-images
The jubilant crowd, flanked by gendarmes, at the intersection of Rue Saint-Florentin, Rue de Rivoli and Place de la Concorde. AKG10780348 © René Zuber / akg-images
On the Place de la Concorde, young Parisian women on a jeep and the jubilant crowd waved banners reading "Vive De Gaulle" ("Long live De Gaulle"). AKG10780381 © René Zuber / akg-images
A jubilant crowd awaits Charles de Gaulle on the Place de la Concorde. AKG10792640 © René Zuber / akg-images
Line-up of tanks parked on the Place de la Concorde. The National Assembly can be seen in the distance. The soldiers sit on the tanks, surrounded by the jubilant crowd. AKG10780387 © René Zuber / akg-images
A jubilant crowd awaits Charles de Gaulle on the Place de la Concorde. AKG10780383 © René Zuber / akg-images
You can view more of René Zuber's photography here.
