On August 14th, 1944, Paris was liberated following a six-day battle between the French Resistance and German forces. Until that point, the country was occupied by Nazi Germany, and the French pushback and subsequent liberation marked an important day in history.

Seventy years later in 2014, Parisian photographer Julien Knez decided to celebrate the battle for Paris with photography. He spent hours looking through old books and photographs to find images of Paris from history, and once he had enough, he began posing the images against the background of their modern selves. The resulting photographs are truly incredible, and you can see some of Knez’s work below.

President De Gaulle on the Champ Elysees, the Arc De Triomphe standing tall in the background.

President De Gaulle on the Champ Elysees, the Arc De Triomphe standing tall in the background.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Along the Champs Elysees in the 1940s.

Along the Champs Elysees in the 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Rue De Mail in the 1940s.

Rue De Mail in the 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

A scene in front of the Paris Opera House in the 1940s.

A scene in front of the Paris Opera House in the 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Pulling up the road in St Michel, Paris.

Pulling up the road in St Michel, Paris.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Julien Knez/Caters News

The Eiffel Tower, then and now.

The Eiffel Tower, then and now.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Another perspective on the famed Paris Opera House in the forties.

Another perspective on the famed Paris Opera House in the forties.

Julien Knez/Caters News

A tank outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

A tank outside of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Another shot of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Another shot of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Rue de Rivoli.

Rue de Rivoli.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Soldiers outside the Hotel De Ville during the war.

Soldiers outside the Hotel De Ville during the war.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Place de la Republique.

Place de la Republique.

Julien Knez/Caters News

A burning car in St Michel in Paris, sometime in the early 1940s.

A burning car in St Michel in Paris, sometime in the early 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Children pose for the camera on Avenue Mozart.

Children pose for the camera on Avenue Mozart.

Julien Knez/Caters News

President De Gaulle at the Hotel De Ville.

President De Gaulle at the Hotel De Ville.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Place de la Concorde in the 1940s.

Place de la Concorde in the 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

A couple having an intimate moment in Tuilleries, Paris.

A couple having an intimate moment in Tuilleries, Paris.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Soldiers outside the Louvre.

Soldiers outside the Louvre.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Surrendering soldiers in the Rue de Castiglione.

Surrendering soldiers in the Rue de Castiglione.

Julien Knez/Caters News

Place de la Concorde in the 1940s.

Place de la Concorde in the 1940s.

Julien Knez/Caters News

And finally, another thoughtful scene from the Place de la Concorde.

And finally, another thoughtful scene from the Place de la Concorde.

Julien Knez/Caters News

It’s amazing to think how much things have changed, isn’t it?

Source:
Design Your Trust

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