German Forces

Boulevardiers.

Private author (Heer soldier)

German soldiers and NCOs salute, and Parisians gawk, at German officers enjoying the privilege of conquerors at a Parisian boulevard café, 1940/'41. In this period, German soldiers of all ranks enjoyed the benefit of rest and recuperation in Paris - eating and drinking in the restaurants and cafés, going to the races, going to the theeatre, betaking themselves of "comfort services", and so on, without any significant harassment from resistants. At the same time, Germany's ruthless exploitation of France's economic resources, urban and rural, in the interests of their war effort had already commenced. Paris continued to be something of a holiday resort for German soldiers at least as late as the end of 1943. However, passive resistance - the "icy stare of the restauranteur" - became more and more unsettling for the occupiers, not to mention increased active resistance. Not surprising, really ... Best regards, JR.