Although today Paris is widely known as the “City of Love” and is one of the top tourist destinations worldwide, in the early 1940’s “war” was the word on every Parisian’s lips as the city was under German control from 1940-1944. The photos below are the work of French photographer Julien Knez. They show the stark contrast between Paris today and 1940’s Paris. The dramatic overlays give a powerful sense of contrast on several levels: black & white vs. color, past vs. present and war vs. peace. Looking deeply at these photos it is easy to feel as if you are in a time warp where past and present collide.
In the 1940’s Paris was a dark, war torn place with armed soldiers on every street, the sound of gunshots and bombs in every ear and fear in the hearts of the residents. These photos remind us of that past and how fortunate we are to live in a world where there we are, for the most part, at peace. Let us examine the photographer’s beautiful work, observe the contrast and be thankful that we exist on the brighter side.
11940s Paris Opera House
Here we see armed soldiers in front of the Paris Opera House in the 1940s; today it is a peaceful, almost serene scene.
21940s Eiffel Tower
The iconic Eiffel Tower in the 1940s as soldiers drive under it. In modern times it is Paris’ most famous tourist attraction.
31940s Notre Dame
Pedestrians peacefully walking just outside the Notre Dame in recent times while an armed tank shown on the right, is one of many that were parading through the streets in celebration when Paris was liberated in 1944.
41940s Rue de Rivoli
This image shows armed men on the Rue de Rivoli in the early 1940s, such a big difference when compared to the modern-day street, which is home to some of the most fashionable boutiques, is Paris.
51940s St. Michel, Paris (2)
A car burning in the streets of St Michel in the 1940s is seen here alongside modern-day pedestrians casually walking along the street.
61940s Hotel De Ville
The Hotel De Ville has been the home of the Paris City Council since 1357. Here you can see President de Gaulle as he waves from the window to the crowd below in the 1940s.
71940s Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde with people gathered in celebration of their liberation from German occupation and control in 1944. This is also the site where Marie Antoinette and many others where beheaded.
81940s Place de la Concorde (2)
Here we see a 1940s image of civilians crouching down behind cars in the street to hide from the live rounds being fired alongside a modern image of motorist going about their everyday business.
91940s Champs Elysees
Soldiers in Champs Elysees celebrating the libration in 1944 and people causally walking and sight-seeing on the now famous shopping street.
101940s Place de la Republique
The atmosphere in the modern photograph with one man on his mobile and a little girl running freely in the square is a far cry from the 1940s insert that is filled with the tension of the people bending down in an effort to escape harm.
111940s Paris Opera House
This soldier in his army vehicle oddly seems to blend right in with the present day pedestrians in the background photograph. The majestic Paris Opera House has maintained its beauty and presence over the years.
121940s Notre Dame Cathedral
A woman and a solider stand atop an army tank as they celebrate freedom from the Germans. The world famous Notre Dame Cathedral stands tall in the background and we see tourists pouring in and out of the building that is currently one of Paris’ most visited attractions.
131940s Rue De Mail
Armed men dressed in civilian clothing outside this building on Rue De Mail in 1940s Paris.
141940s Soldiers Outside the Hotel De Ville
Soldiers just outside the famous Hotel De Ville, celebrating France’s freedom from German occupation in 1944. In the modern photograph we see a couple holding hands and strolling along the street.
151940s Avenue Mozart, Paris
An old, war-torn military vehicle on Avenue Mozart is taken over by children as they pretend to be soldiers. You can see modern cars in the background parked peacefully along the street.
161940s Outside the Louvre
This photograph shows the area just outside the world famous Louvre museum that attracts thousands of visitors today. In the 1940s insert German soldiers are being marched under armed guard.
171940s Arc de Triomphe
After the liberation of Paris, President De Gaulle is seen leading soldiers and civilians as they march down the street with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. The modern photograph shows the traffic that is often found on this busy Parisian street.
181940s Paris Opera House (2)
Armed soldiers march from the Paris Opera House in the 1940s while we see new buildings being constructed for commercial use in modern day Paris.
191940s Tuilleries, Paris
In Tuilleries, Paris the photographer captures the contrasting image of barbed wire in front of a 1940s couple as they warmly embrace and places it in the center of a scene with modern tour buses in background.
201940s Rue de Castiglione
What is now the Westin Paris hotel on Paris’ Rue de Castiglione was once the place where these German soldiers walked by, holding up their hands in surrender at the end of the German occupation of Paris.
Photographer Julien Knez may also know a thing or two about time-travel. He has successfully transported us back to 1940s Paris and shown us a bit of what the city was like then, and how it compares to what it is now. Let us hope that the images 70 years from now will also be a vast improvement from those that we have today.
