Here is the audio clip of
Charles de Gaulle's Paris Liberated speech. Scroll down for
the English translation of the transcript.
It follows the English
translation of the transcript from Charles de Gaulle's
Paris Liberated speech, delivered at City Hall, Paris,
France - August 25, 1944.
Why should we hide
the emotion which seizes us all, men and
women, who are
here, at home, in Paris that stood up to
liberate itself and that succeeded in doing this
with its own hands?
No! We will not hide this deep and sacred
emotion. These are minutes which go beyond each
of our poor lives. Paris! Paris outraged! Paris
broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated!
Liberated by itself, liberated by its people
with the help of the French armies, with the
support and the help of all France, of the
France that fights, of the only France, of the
real France, of the eternal France!
Well! Since the enemy which held Paris has
capitulated into our hands, France returned to
Paris. She has returned bleeding but resolute.
She has returned, enlightened by this immense
lesson, but more certain than ever of her
responsibilities and her rights.
I say responsibilities first because for the
moment we are still at war. The enemy totters
but he is not yet beaten. He remains on our
soil.
It would not even be enough, after what has
happened, if with the help of our dear and
admirable allies we chased him out of our
country. We want to go to his country as we
should, as conquerors.
This is why the French advance guard has entered
Paris with guns blazing. This is why the great
French army from Italy has landed in the south
and is advancing rapidly up the Rhône valley.
This is why our brave and dear Forces of the
interior are going to arm themselves with modern
weapons. It is for this revenge, this vengeance
and justice, that we will keep fighting until
the last day, until the day of total and
complete victory.
This duty of war, all the men who are here and
all those who hear us in France know that it
demands national unity. We, who have lived the
greatest hours of our History, we have nothing
else to wish than to show ourselves, up to the
end, worthy of France.
