The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-08-29

Of Germans left in the city and the Allies might enter any day. Two thousand members Of the French Forces Of the Interior seized the prefecture Of police and other pub- lie buildings and hoisted the Tr- color over the city han while crowds outside sang the Marseil,aise. Home made American flags were Haunted from windows all over the city.
 The Germans tore through the streets in arsnored cars flashing ev- cry beflagged window with machine guns. The real battle started around the police building on the Isle ds la Cite, across the square from Notre Dame cathedral. with the Germans attacking with tanks and field pieces.
 Gasoline Bombs
 Partisans set two 22-ton tanks on fire with incendiary bombs made of champagne bottles filled with gasO- line. They then sallied out and cap- tured 8 German prisoners including a major. % trucks and % autOnlo- biles.
 Then to the amazement even of the most rabid PartiSans. the Ger mans sued for a truce. Ii vas are ranged for 9 D. m. of Aug. %. By that time the Germans had had co men killed. and 27 wounded: the French five killed and 35 wounded.
 Even now there Is some question as to the exact nature Of that truce but a communiqae issued by the French Forces of the Interior indi- cafed the agreement vas that the German command would not attack public buildings occupied by French troops and would treat all French men taken prisoners under the laws Of war. The French on their part agreed t0 suspend fire against the forces Of occupation until the promised evacuation of Paris is completed"
 The German commander. Gen. Dietrich von Clsoltitz. released three Partisan prisoners. The truce began well but it was only to last a few hours before both sides were chaRg- ing violations and shooting at one another.
 The Germans enirenched them selves at strategic points from which they took pot shots at anyone pass ing.
 GseETiila Center
 The French colonel commanding the FFT ordered the whole city turned into a guerrilla center with organized defenses in every street and on the roofs.
 "In order to protect the poptlia- ti0n against reprisals." his order read. ''tlBe civilians must @ansforn Paris into an enfnenclaed camp. All means are good such as incendiagy bottles. poles and assy arm that can be made in factories that are sttI' available"
 On the 2lst the walls Of the city g'ere plastered with posters asking the people to prepare for the tgt- nmphal entry of Allied troops which was imminent. The flag Of France fliittenad 0Ver many buildings tn- elnding the Bank of France. the Louvre and tile towers Of NOtre Dame.
 That began 18 hours Of snOmen- t0lls events. At noon delegates of the Committee Of Liberation iu vars t0sis departments too koyeT, busting vieisy men. 4 general strike vas fully effective. German trucks dashed wildly through tlse streets.
 Death Iist
 On the morning of tbse 22d. shops Of e0llaberatl0latsts geTe piastere6 gttb waFDines: This man is a sell kpoEp eolishoratioplst. He Is 0p the death list"
 4 German gasoline truck crashed into historic Saint Denis gate, eallg- ing e0nfiagEatl0ss. At 1 D. SIl. long files of anlbuiaDees from the Nor. mandy front passed up Lafayette street headad east. Germans stole al the bicycles Co Place de tOpeTa and Iladaled awsy ct top speed,
 oeFmap tanks assaulted the ciiy hall and the square became . no mans land, The streets EeTe hagyl. eaded and tlbfre was guerrilla ngIls- ing all oyer the etfy.
 On the 2stla the flTst Allied tanks rolled into Paris and our deliver. a1aee began.