June 14, 1940, dawned upon Paris with an ominous shadow. The city of lights, once a beacon of culture and art, now found itself under the oppressive gaze of the Swastika. German forces, having pushed relentlessly through France, entered the heart of the nation with an air of triumph.
The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of French pride, stood as a silent witness to the invading forces. The once bustling streets, filled with the melodies of Parisian life, now echoed with the rumble of German tanks and the synchronized march of soldiers. The French government, recognizing the inevitable, declared Paris an open city in a desperate attempt to spare it from further destruction.