When you're in Paris surrounded by the city's rich history and countless architectural treasures, it's easy to forget that but for the unlikely courage of one German officer, Paris would not be what it is today. Its landscape might resemble something more akin to Berlin's, a city that was almost completely obliterated by aerial bombings in the last weeks of World War II. That's why each time I'm at Le Bar Fontainebleau, I raise a glass (or two) to my favourite place on earth and to General Dietrich von Choltitz.
Located on the rue de Rivoli directly across from Jardins des Tuileries, l'Hotel Meurice became the headquarters for the Wehrmacht throughout the German Occupation of Paris during WW II. It is precisely in this spot that General von Choltitz cleverly devised ways to frustrate Hitler's plan to destroy the entire city in the event of a German defeat. By various ruses and at great risk to himself and to his family, he gained precious time enabling the Allies to liberate Paris before Hitler's plans for the city could be executed. For a detailed account of his bravery, The Luxe Chronicles highly recommends the classic historical text Is Paris Burning? How Paris Miraculously Escaped Adolf Hitler's Sentence Of Death In August 1944 (2000, Castle Books) by authors Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. So, the next time you're in Paris, I urge you to pop into l'Hotel Meurice's Bar Fontainebleau, one of the best watering holes in Europe, and raise a glass to Paris and General von Choltitz. Without him, Paris would not be Paris.
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
Photographic References:
Bar Fontainebleau, l'Hotel Meurice, Paris. Photo property of The Luxe Chronicles. All rights reserved.
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