In around 1940, when Paris was invaded by Hitler's troops, Hitler took his first and only visit to Paris. "That was the greatest and finest moment of my life," he said upon leaving. He loved Paris, he was impressed by the architecture that he brought his favourite architect, Albert Speer, to revive plans for a massive makeover of having new superior public buildings in Berlin. He wanted Berlin to be like Paris, yet better...
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| Napoleon's tomb - Les Invalides |
Napoleon was Hitler's idol, he made the Napoleon's tomb among the sites to see. Our tour guide said Hitler ordered his soldiers to leave him alone with Napoleon's tomb for a long time. (true or not? - I don't know)
'Draw up a decree in my name ordering full-scale resumption of work on the Berlin buildings. . . . Wasn't Paris beautiful? But Berlin must be made far more beautiful. In the past I often considered whether we would not have to destroy Paris,' he continued with great calm, as if he were talking about the most natural thing in the world. 'But when we are finished in Berlin, Paris will only be a shadow. So why should we destroy it?' With that, I was dismissed." - Hitler tours Paris, 1940
There were other stories that Hitler wanted to destroy Paris ("Is Paris burning?") at one point, but his general didn't take the command as he thought Paris was too beautiful to be destroyed.
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