Is Paris Burning?

As Allied forces approach in August 1944, French Resistance fighters rise up against the German occupation of Paris while General Dietrich von Choltitz weighs Hitler's order to destroy the city. The film follows resistance leaders, Allied commanders, and the German garrison commander through the tense days leading to liberation.

Hitler ordered that Paris be left 'a field of ruins' rather than fall intact to the Allies, but garrison commander Dietrich von Choltitz ultimately did not carry out the demolition, and the city was liberated by Free French and American forces on 25 August 1944 following a citywide uprising.

Based on the nonfiction book of the same name, the film is broadly faithful to documented events, though it dramatizes internal dialogue and motivations.

Directed by René Clément

Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Kirk Douglas, Orson Welles, Glenn Ford

Positioned at 19–25 August 1944 within the Liberation of Paris phase of the war, as part of the Liberation of Paris. This is entry 122 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Liberation of Paris
• French Resistance
• von Choltitz
• ensemble cast
• 1944

• 

  The Great Escape

  24–25 March 1944

• 

  The Longest Day

  6 June 1944

• 

  A Bridge Too Far

  September 17-25, 1944

• 

  Battle of the Bulge

  December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945

• 

  Army of Shadows

  October 1942 – February 1943

• 

  Overlord

  1944