Darkness fell over the "City of Light."

The month of June was an unspeakably depressing one for France and the two Americans. On the 3rd of the month two hundred German planes dropped a total of eleven hundred bombs on Paris, killing many. Then, to their horror, they listened to reports that, as German troops fought their way across Northern France, they trapped 340, 000 Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. The ruthless and confident Germans forced back the battle‑weary British, French and Belgian divisions to a point where it looked like they would be annihilated.

When the French and British troops had rushed to the defense of Belgium and Holland and the countries surrendered, it exposed their left flank. Hitler's forces took advantage of this, and stormed through the gaping hole trapping the Allies. Although around 130,000 died, the Royal Air Force fought an air battle with the Luftwaffe, which gave time for an evacuation that was hailed as the "miracle of Dunkirk." In nine days, a massive allied effort pulled 340,000 grateful troops back across the channel. It was a bittersweet victory.

That night Jerry tuned into the BBC, and once again was stirred by the words of Winston Churchill, who despite the evacuation vowed,

"We shall fight on the seas and oceans; we shall fight, with growing confidence and strength, in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

All too familiar tears rolled down Jerry's cheeks, partly because of such soul‑stirring words, but also because he felt fearful for France. His fears were justified. What was considered unthinkable a few years earlier, happened.

Darkness fell over the "City of Light." Hitler invaded Paris. It took a mere ten days for the Germans to take Paris after they began the Battle of France.
The tears continued to flow as Jerry stood under the trees and watched the German armored cars sweep down the Champs Elysees. His heart almost broke when his eyes fixed upon a sign plastered on the Eiffel Tower: "Deutschland siegt auf Allen Fronten." He didn't need anyone to help with the translation: "Germany conquers on all fronts."

To be continued.