Personal Narrative Essay: The Invasion Of Paris

In early May, 1940, Germany invaded Belgium and Holland. Its planes bombed the nearby French border towns with Belgium, Lille, Calais, Valenciennes. It is spoken that the German troops advancing towards Paris.

It couldn't turn the lights at night; projectiles sounded and the bomb flash seen in Paris's sky. From Belgium and Holland, trains arrived full of refugees and between them arrived, my grandparents, cousins. They told us would need, to flee to the South as the Germans were advancing rapidly.

These cousins stayed days at home. Since I liked to know everything, hiding myself behind the doors to overhear the conversations of adults. Terrible habit says mom. I listened as Belgian cousins explained to my grandparents and mother it’s necessary,

Since he’s on the front line, on the border between France and Germany, there that developed the fighting and hasn’t had news of him. Aunt Sarah didn’t receive news of Uncle Isaac.

Mom struggling with determining to stay in Paris or leave to the South, difficult decision. So, our family were two elderly, my brother Jacob six years, Leah that it had no three years, my mom and myself. ¿How we can move between the people leaving Paris?

In what they could families moving, in cars, bicycle, on foot, carrying three children in one cart, loading luggage and packages. This in the middle of an enormous confusion, also rumored that the roads and the train bombarded by the German airplanes.

Thus, difficult and risky it’s to stay in Paris; mom decided not to move, at least, would expect news of dad, and would be all together under the same roof. In late May, my grandfather says, the city it’s a complete chaos, and in early June, it appeared a deserted city.

On June 14th, the Germans entered Paris, and after that the War end. Everything returning to normal, the Metro began operations and also, bus lines. My grandfather and mother would open the boutique on the Rue du Temple ‘cause had customers for repairs antique clocks, or to assess an old gem or an ancient

In less than a week, the street signs and Metro entries appeared in German. Singing and marching in the Champs Elysees German troops parade. Stand in a corner. I went with grandfather to watch this parade. Impressed by the pounding on the road of the soldiers' black boots and didn’t understand, why the sight of the soldiers, give me anxiety and fear.

On late August 1940, my father returned home demobilized and to his craft of watch making at my grandfather’s boutique. Taken prisoner in Germany my uncle Isaac didn’t return, together with the cousin Moses Aunt Sarah continued in the textile shop.

In September as expected my brother Jacob, and I returned to school.

Everything it’s normal. I still remember the whispers between my parents and my grandparents as the endless comings and goings of dad in the living room of our apartment. In the atmosphere of our home, I felt that reigned uncertainty and anguish.

Gone to the usual gatherings with Aunt Sara sisters and the neighboring families across the courtyard as before, expressed in whispers and in the neighborhood seemed to rein the fear.

On a Thursday in the afternoon, I didn’t have school; I went to my grandfather’s boutique. I asked him what it’s the “demarcation line” and why France divided into two? ¿Why mom and dad spoke to flee? ¿What