Figure 1.--This little French girl is all decled out in a red, white, and blue smock and had American and British French flags to greet the Allied soldiers like this GI We believe that this photograph was taken during the liberation of Paris, but can not confirm it. Notice that the little girl even had white gloves on.

The Allies reached Paris August 25, 1944. The French Ressistance was already fighting the Germans. Th city was in chaos. Celebrations were occuring on one corner and a block away fighting was raging. We have no details on this photograph, but we believe it was taken during the liberation of France, probably the liberation of Paris the last week of August 1944.

Liberation of France

The Allies reached Paris August 25, 1944. The French Ressistance was already fighting the Germans. Th city was in chaos. Celebrations were occuring on one corner and a block away fighting was raging. We have no details on this photograph, but we believe it was taken during the liberation of France, probably the liberation of Paris the last week of August 1944.

Color Film

As an American GI was being photographed and color film used, almost certainly it was taken by an American. Color film was very rare in 1944 and Americans would have most likely have had access to it. Photographers were expeimenting with various color print systems in the early 20th century. Practical systems began to be used in the 1930s. German and American film manufacturers had developed color film. The War interupted commercial development. Motion picture studios began making color films in 1939 just as he War began. The dyes in some early color films were not very stable. My dad took some color prints of us in the 1945 and they are now faded beyond recognition. For several years even after the War, color film was very expensive. Color film did not become widely used until the 1970s.

Soldier

The soldier is American. His appearance to us suggests he is not in a secured area, but rather a combat zone. This is one reason that we believe the impage was taken in a city or town just liberated rather than on a subseuent clebration like V-E Day.

Girl

We are not sure where the photograph was taken, but the girl and her dress look French to us. A French reader, who also thinks the little girl is French, writes, "This photo could have been made in Paris or another major city as the Allies fought their way through France. The big bow looks rather French a does her smock dress. The white gloves were for Sunday, but her parents no doubt dressed her up for the special occassion."

Location

We suspect that it was taken as Paris was being liberated. The French population in June 1944 was expecting the arival of the Allies. The people got American and British flags out of the attics (from 1917-18) or quicky made them. During the occupation, of course, these flags were not permited. The American, British, and Free French were hysterically welcomed when they reached Paris. Unfortunately the back ground is not very clear so it is virtually impossible to identify the location. It clearly was a large city.

Created: December 17, 2003
Last updated: December 17, 2003