Who is the crying Frenchman that always appears in documentaries about WWII?
Whatever happened to him?
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Could you cite a doc? Or give a bit more context concerning his appearances?
Do you mean this pic?
This guy?
Yes, some sort of photo would be good. I have trouble picturing this ubiquitous Frenchman.
I recall that photo from a book of famous Life magazine photos. It was of a French “Poilu” (so described in the caption, though the man might well have been an ordinary patriot who had never worn a uniform) watching the German troops enter Paris.
Yas. That is him.
I don’t know who he is, but the photo/film footage of him crying was taken (according to what I’ve read) before the Germans entered Paris, at les Invalides as the flags of France including Napoleon’s eagles were being removed so that the Germans couldn’t take them as trophies.
This footage is often spliced together with that of Germans later marching past the Arc Triomphe, which is almost two miles from les Invalides and across the Seine, as an artificial reaction shot.
So, is this guy’s name lost to history?
There’s an alternative description in this old eBay listing for an “original” print:
I think he was related to the Flying Dutchman, but I could be mistaken.
I first read it as “Crying Freeman”.
That is one sharp-looking tie!
mm
I was just thinking about this photo earlier today. I wonder if there’s a French version of History Detectives?