Parade of the Wehrmacht in Paris 1940: After the capitulation of France, the Wehrmacht parades on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Film length 1:12. A licence fee of 3 x 30 seconds is charged to purchase a licence for the complete film.
Parade of the Wehrmacht in Paris 1940
Description
Parade of the Wehrmacht in Paris 1940
Historical background
The Wehrmacht parade in Paris in 1940 took place after the surrender of France during the Second World War. On 14 June 1940, German troops marched into Paris under the command of Colonel General Gerd von Rundstedt. The occupying troops occupied the city and Adolf Hitler personally intended to demonstrate Germany’s military superiority.
On 14 June 1940, the Wehrmacht led a victory parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. German soldiers, accompanied by tanks and other military vehicles, marched through the streets while tens of thousands of Parisians watched the event. Hitler himself was present at the parade and took the salute from the troops.
This parade had a symbolic meaning for German propaganda. It was intended to demonstrate Germany’s superiority and victory over France and to emphasise the triumph of the National Socialist regime. For the French population, however, it was a painful and humiliating experience that emphasised the loss of their independence and the occupation of their country. The parade marked the beginning of the Nazi regime’s brutal and violent occupation policy in France, which was particularly directed against Jews.
