PARIS : Germans Back in Paris
It’s been 49 years and 11 months since the goose-stepping German army was driven from the streets of Paris by the Allies in World War II. Now, on Thursday, German soldiers will be back for the first time, marching down the Champs-Elysees as invited guests of the French government in the annual Bastille Day parade.
The participation of the German army in France’s Republic Day festivities, barely a month after German leaders were shut out of D-Day commemorations, is viewed by many in France as a chance to bury the past. An opinion poll conducted by Le Figaro newspaper last week found 58% of the French believe it is a good idea to let the Germans join the parade, as against 34% who are opposed.
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