Useful links / Liens utiles

The Allied bombing of France: Links

Les bombardements alliés de la France: liens

Websites sometimes disappear or are withdrawn. We cannot guarantee, therefore that each link given below will work when you try to use it.

The richest source of moving images for the bombing of Franceis available online (at the time of writing) on the site of France’s Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (http://www.ina.fr/). Most are newsreels produced under the propaganda system of the Vichy regime; a handful are Free French newsreels; and a similarly small number are excerpts from more recent television programmes, mixing contemporary footage and witness statements.

France-Actualités: theVichynewsreels

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: an RAF Bomber Command raid on Marseille, December 1940 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE85000221/apres-le-bombardement-aerien-de-marseille.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: after the RAF Bomber Command raids on Boulogne-Billancourt, March 1942 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/vie-economique/video/AFE85000746/apres-le-bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html and

http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/vie-sociale/video/AFE85000752/obseques-des-victimes-du-bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: RAF Bomber Command raids on the Parisregion, 29 April 1942 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE85000851/nouveau-bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: RAF Bomber Command raids on the Parisregion, 29/30 May 1942 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE85000898/bombardement-de-suresnes.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: funeral of victims of the raid on Rennesby the US Eighth Air Force, 8 March 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/video/I07156156/rennes-apres-le-bombardement.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: after raids on Rennes, Rouen, Amiensand Lorient, April 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001812/suite-aux-bombardements-de-rennes-de-rouen-d-amiens-et-de-lorient.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on the Parissuburbs by the US Eighth Air Force, 4 April 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001863/nouveau-bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: ‘War on civilians’: funerals for victims of raids on the Paris suburbs, and on the Belgium port of Antwerp, by the US Eighth Air Force, 4 and 5 April 1943: note footage from the Paris mosque (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichy regime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001873/obseques-des-victimes-des-bombardements.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link (France-Actualités newsreels produced under the Vichyregime): evacuation of children from the Parissuburbs to the rural département of the Creuse, April 1943: http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001887/accueil-de-la-creuse-aux-enfants-des-villes-sinistrees.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Bordeauxby the US Eighth Air Force, 17 May 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001938/apres-le-bombardement-de-bordeaux.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Rennesby the US Eighth Air Force, 29 May 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001953/nouveau-bombardement-de-la-ville-de-rennes.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: US Eighth Air Force raids on aerodromes outside Paris, 14 July 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002055/bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne-le-14-juillet.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Parisby the US Eighth Air Force, September 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002151/bombardement-de-paris.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the bombing of Nantesby the US Eighth Air Force, September 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/I07348915/bombardement-a-nantes.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Toulonby the US Fifteenth Air Force, 24 November 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002326/bombardement-de-toulon.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Marseille by the US Fifteenth Air Force, December 1943 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002328/bombardement-de-marseille.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel links (France-Actualités newsreels produced under the Vichyregime): the SIPEG train, 1944 (three extracts): http://www.ina.fr/recherche/recherche?search=SIPEG&vue=Video

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on the Parissuburbs by the US Eighth Air Force, January 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002390/bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: Marshal Pétain speaks after raid on Paris, April 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86001863/nouveau-bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: Information Minister Philippe Henriot speaks after raids on Paris and Rouen, April 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichy regime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002666/discours-de-philippe-henriot-apres-les-bombardements-de-paris-et-de-rouen.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on Toulonby the US Fifteenth Air Force, probably 11 March 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002580/bombardement-de-toulon.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid of 16/17 March 1944 on the Michelin plant at Clermont-Ferrandby RAF Bomber Command, (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002579/bombardement-de-clermont-ferrand.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raids on the Parissuburbs by RAF Bomber Command, Easter 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002636/bombardement-de-la-region-parisienne.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: after the raid on Toulouseby RAF Bomber Command, 5/6 April 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002652/bombardements-a-toulouse.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the bombing of Lilleby RAF Bomber Command, 9/10 April 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002651/bombardement-de-lille.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raids on Parissuburbs and on Rouen, April 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): includes footage of the Vichy Milice distributing supplies, and speech by Information Minister Philippe Henriot: http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/environnement-et-urbanisme/video/AFE86002668/les-bombardements-aeriens.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: Marshal Pétain visits Juvisy and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, rail centres bombed during the Transportation Plan, 26 May 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002717/le-marechal-petain-visite-les-environs-de-paris.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raids on Chartres, Orléans, Sartrouville , Chambéry, Saint Etienne and Lyon, May-June 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichy regime): http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/environnement-et-urbanisme/video/AFE86002729/bombardements-de-chartres-orleans-sartrouville-chambery-saint-etienne-lyon.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: after the raid on Marseille by the USFifteenth Air Force, 27 May 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002741/bombardements-de-marseille.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: after raids on Lyon, Marseille, Mantes, Rouen(France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichy regime, date 9 June 1944): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002741/bombardements-de-lyon-mantes-marseille-et-rouen.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the destruction of Caen, June 1944 (France-Actualités newsreel produced under the Vichyregime: the claim of 8,000-9,000 bodies recovered exceeds later official estimates of the dead by at least 6,000): http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/environnement-et-urbanisme/video/AFE86002758/dans-les-ruines-de-caen.fr.html

 

Free French and Liberation newsreels

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: raid on northern Franceby a Free French squadron based in England, December 1943 (Office Français d’Informations Cinématographiques): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE00002891/ils-ont-revu-la-france.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the work of Free French fighter squadrons based in England, January 1944 (Office Français d’Informations Cinématographiques): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE00002890/guerre-aerienne-a-l-ouest.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the last raid on Parisby the Luftwaffe, August 1944 (France-Libre-Actualités): http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/AFE86002797/bombardement-de-paris-par-les-allemands.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: survey of war damage across France, including Brest, Toulon, and eastern towns wrecked by retreating Germans, 1944 (France-Libre-Actualités): http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/environnement-et-urbanisme/video/AFE86002917/a-travers-la-france-meurtrie.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: 1947 survey of war damage across France, and reconstruction needs (France-Libre-Actualités): http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/environnement-et-urbanisme/video/AFE00001821/bons-de-la-liberation.fr.html

 

 

 

Modern documentaries

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: Allied raids on Rouen, April 1944: excerpts from a 1994 documentary; contemporary footage and witness statements: http://www.ina.fr/video/R09132659/la-destruction-de-rouen.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the destruction of Évrecy, Normandy, by RAF Bomber Command, 14/15 June 1944: excerpts from a 1994 documentary; witness statements: http://www.ina.fr/video/R09132658/le-bombardement-d-evrecy.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the liberation of Caen, July 1944, recalled by BBC correspondents (including Vichyfootage of the bombed town); http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/CNC9407147383/liberation-de-caen-avec-les-corresondants-de-guerre.fr.html

 

Institut National de l’Audiovisuel link: the destruction of Le Havreby RAF Bomber Command, September 1944: excerpts from a 1994 documentary; witness statements: http://www.ina.fr/histoire-et-conflits/seconde-guerre-mondiale/video/R09132666/les-bombardements-du-havre.fr.html

 

 

Other sites

‘Donald Duck bombs France’: Vichypropaganda borrows Disney characters plus a caricature figure of a Jew to attack American bombing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Ok-RKgCHg&feature=PlayList&p=C30CFE9A9C9A840D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=41

 

Bombing Renault: British propaganda footage on the bombing of the Billancourt works on 3 March 1942 compares German indifference to civilian casualties and the care taken British bombers. In fact the raid killed more civilians – 373 – than any British raid on any target to date. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRKnLO-HJu8

 

Contemporary site created by former civil defence workers, Marseille: http://vpcmarseille.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/images-du-bombardement-de-marseille-27-mai-1944/

 

 

 

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