French Leaders Mark WWII Anniversary

AP ^ | May 8, 2003

[Shermy]

PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac marked the 58th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday to honor those who died fighting.

Chirac was joined at the monument, which is at the foot of the Arc de Triomph, by Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe.

Spectators lined the tree-lined Champs-Elysees boulevard to watch a military parade, as Chirac shook hands with more than 100 veterans who attended the annual ceremony. France lost nearly 600,000 people in the war.

On May 7, 1945, German representatives surrendered to the Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in Reims, France, with an Allied victory announced the following day. World War II ended later in 1945 with the Japanese surrender.

In 1953, the French government declared May 8 a public holiday.

A separate ceremony was held in the northern port of Cherbourg to mark the one-year anniversary of a suicide bombing in Karachi, Pakistan that killed 11 French engineers.

Families of the victims attended the private ceremony at which a commemorative plaque was laid at the Direction of Naval Construction, where the engineers had worked.

In the May 8, 2002, attack, a suspected Islamic militant rammed a car laden with explosives into a bus carrying the French engineers, who were about to leave for their jobs helping to build a submarine for the Pakistan navy. Two Pakistani passers-by and the bomber also were killed.

[Shermy]

Where's the crowds?

French President Jacques Chirac, standing at center, and French Army Chief of Staff General Henri Betengeat, standing behind Chirac, ride a command car past a saluting Republican Guard, right, and the Arc de Triomphe during ceremonies marking the 58th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War II, Thursday, May 8, 2003, in Paris. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours/Pool)

Meanwhile elsewhere in France...

A French army commando diver from the 1st Foreign Regiment aims a weapon near members of the public after simulated landing operations on Marseille's beaches, May 8, 2003. The French Army organized the first 'Nation-Defense' campaign during ceremonies marking the 58th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War II.

French Defense Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie (L) stands near a French army commando diver from the 1st Foreign Regiment during simulated landing operations on Marseille's beaches, May 8, 2003. The French Army organized the first 'Nation-Defense' campaign during ceremonies marking the 58th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War II.

[biblewonk]

The "french army commando" reminds me of the Monty Python skit with the mountain climbers climbing the street.

[CJ Wolf]

"In the May 8, 2002, attack, a suspected Islamic militant rammed a car laden with explosives into a bus carrying the French engineers, who were about to leave for their jobs helping to build a submarine for the Pakistan navy. Two Pakistani passers-by and the bomber also were killed."

[geedee]

French President Jacques Chirac marked the 58th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday to honor those who died fighting.

It's a safe bet Mr. Unknown ain't French, less'n he be shot in the ass.

[AlaskaErik]

While Jacko was laying that wreath I'm sure the thought of who bailed his sorry French ass (and all of France's) out during the war was the furthest thing from his mind.

[theDentist]

On your Marks. Get Set. Surrender!

[ErnBatavia]

Bottom pic - that guy is sweating bullets at the thought of having to be a real "commando"

[dts32041]

Query what are the plan's for the 60th anniversary of D-day next june.

Methinks it might be apropos to reenact operation overlord with a live fire exercise.

Not to self if that happens volunteer as a reenacter.

[Ben Chad]

No white flags?

[cynicom]

600,000 lost??? The cowards were in hiding and showed up after the war. How many "foreign" soldiers were killed liberating France??? french not interested in that.

[McGavin999]

On May 7, 1945, German representatives surrendered to the Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (American) in Reims, France

There, that's better. Funny how they neglect to mention that little fact.

[RJL]

On May 7, 1945, German representatives surrendered to the Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in Reims, France,

In 1953, the French government declared May 8 a public holiday.

I guess this makes sense to the French...

[CPOSharky]

Good thing there weren't any fireworks. The French would go crazy looking for someone to surrender to.

[kidd]