Scorched Earth - Robert Muchamore Page 0,84

chug of German diesel.

‘Now I believe you,’ Paul said, as he opened the front window to get a proper look.

Several other locals had thrown their windows open and shouts came from all directions.

‘They’re coming,’ Paul screamed. ‘We’re gonna be all right!’

Luc burst in with Laure as the lead tanks started to cross the bridge. As Edith joined Paul at the window a squadron of British escort fighters swooped overhead, but apparently found nothing worth shooting at.

A nervous silence broke out as the American pathfinders made a dash for the city centre, but as clocks neared 02:30, the sound of Jeeps, tanks and trucks again filled the street. This time people shouting thanks to the Americans out of their windows found indignant shouts coming back in French.

‘We’re no bloody Yanks. We’re French!’

Even in daylight it would have been an easy mistake. The Free French Army wore rebadged American uniforms and rode in American-made vehicles. They poured down towards the bridge in such numbers that they were forced to knock down barricades and use other routes.

A church bell clanged as everyone headed downstairs. Luc caught up with Laure on the way down and raised one of her lads to his shoulders. As people poured out of their doorways, the street backed up with tanks and trucks painted with small French flags.

Girls in their night clothes jumped on the side of trucks and kissed soldiers. A French soldier shouted out of the top of a tank. ‘Are the telephones working?’

The woman downstairs, who had the only telephone in the building, shouted back, ‘Yes!’

‘Call my mother on o-nine-eight-one. Tell her I’ll be dropping in for breakfast!’

The single church bell became a chorus from all directions and someone placed a gramophone at an upstairs window and began playing La Marseillaise.

Henderson came down with his last bottle of champagne, to smiles and pats on the back from neighbours who’d been avoiding him all the previous day. After taking a couple of swigs Henderson passed the bottle into a truck, with no expectation of getting it back.

‘I called your mother,’ the woman downstairs cried, as the backed-up convoy started moving again. ‘She said she’s waiting for you and she loves you!’

Marc had tears streaking down his face as Edith jumped on to a tank and had her slender frame lifted into the turret.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Henderson shouted cheerfully.

‘Berlin or bust!’ Edith shouted back, though she changed her mind and jumped down as her ride neared the bridge.

PT danced around with Laure’s younger son balanced on his shoulders as the next line of trucks lit up the top of the hill.

‘I can’t believe they’re finally here,’ Paul said, looking at Marc. ‘I wish Rosie could see this.’

‘She can,’ Marc said, as he gave Paul an almighty slap on the back. ‘She’s up there watching, and I bet she’s bloody loving it!’

Aftermath

All facts correct as of December 2012.

PARIS

Allied planners wanted to divert troops around Paris, but the resistance uprising and pressure from the Free French led to a change of heart. In the event, American and French troops met little German resistance as they entered the western suburbs of Paris in the early hours of 24 August 1944. A lack of resources and a transport network crippled by bombing and sabotage meant that large-scale German reinforcements never reached the city.

Within two days, most of the troops who swept jubilantly through Paris had exited the city to the east. They were soon engaged in much bloodier battles as the Allies launched their final push towards Berlin.

Explosives had been placed around many of Paris’ most important buildings, including the Louvre, the parliament building and the Eiffel Tower. Hitler gave orders that Paris be destroyed. However, the city’s commander, General von Choltitz, did not pass these final orders on to the demolition teams.

To this day, von Choltitz is sometimes credited as the Nazi who saved Paris. Others claim that he didn’t give the final order because he was keen to surrender to the Allies and save his own skin.

The whole of France was liberated by mid-September. Resistance organisations disbanded, or morphed into new political parties. The Maquis emerged from the woods, while Milice and other German collaborators were subjected to brutal street justice.

As the hot summer of 1944 ended, most people thought that rapid Allied advances would end the war within months. But the fighting got tougher when the Allies reached Germany and another million people would die on European soil before Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945.

CHERUB

Charles