Comes with hand-signed C.O.A.

This incredibly rare and museum-grade piece of World War II history is an original 1944 French-made liberation flag from the Liberation of Paris. World War II liberation flags are extremely rare and there are only a small handful of liberation flags from the Allied Liberation of Paris that are known to exist. 

The liberation of Paris was a pivotal moment in the war, as it marked the beginning of the end of the German occupation of France. On August 25, 1944, Allied forces entered the city and began the process of freeing it from German control. This flag was one of many that were flown during this time, as the people of Paris celebrated their long-awaited freedom.

After more than four years of German occupation, Paris is liberated by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. The liberation of Paris from German occupation in 1944 allowed the British to reopen their embassy, which had been closed since 1940. The British were eager to re-establish a presence in the city with the provisional government of General Charles de Gaulle. 

This flag was made by the people of France as a symbol of their resistance against the occupying German forces and was proudly flown throughout the city as Allied forces liberated Paris from German control.

In anticipation of the Allied liberation of their city, many citizens in France secretly made Allied “Liberation Flags”. Their make-do attributes are nearly limitless. A lack of specific knowledge about the flag itself, a lack of time, and a lack of suitable materials in an utterly devastating region combine to result in a collection of flags where nearly every example is unique and rare. French civilians caught making liberation flags during the German occupation were severely punished.

This Liberation of Paris liberation flag is made out of many different cloth materials which makes it one of a kind and very unique. The blue of the flag is made with a heavy-duty burlap-type bag fabric and the white and red are made with tablecloths and other more delicate fabric. All of this is hand-sewn as well.

 Liberation of Paris:

After defeating the German forces in Normandy, Allied armies rushed through France, trying to catch up retreating German troops. The liberation of Paris didn’t have priority, also because the risk of damaging the town. On 19 August 1944 however, the French resistance caused an uprising in Paris against the Germans. The German commander of Paris, Lieutenant-General Choltitz, was ordered to crush the insurrection and to destroy the city, as the Germans did in Warsaw.

To prevent this disaster, Charles de Gaulle insisted to interfere. Allied Command sent in Major-General Leclerc’s 2nd French Armored Division, supported by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division of Major-General Barton. A first group managed to infiltrate into the heart of Paris on the evening of 24 August.

On 25 August, the French and American forces were warmly welcomed by the Parisians. Choltitz and his staff were captured at the Meurice Hotel. The capitulation was signed at the Police Department on the Île de la Cité. After that, Choltitz was taken to the Montparnasse train station from where he ordered his troops to surrender. The next day, cheered by countless people, de Gaulle led the triumphal parade on the Champs-Élysées. France regained its national unity and sovereignty.