German Victory Parade in Lille (1940)

Wehrmacht officers in front of the staircase of a building. From left to right: Oberstleutnant i.G. Hans Speth (Ia XXVII. Armeekorps), General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger (Kommandierender General XXVII. Armeekorps), and Oberstleutnant Arthur Kullmer (Adjutant Kommandierender General XXVII. Armeekorps). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

The siege of Lille, or Lille pocket, (28–31 May 1940) took place during the Battle of France. The siege around the city of Lille took place between the French IV Corps and V Corps (about 40,000 men) of the First Army (General René Prioux) and four German infantry divisions supported by three panzer divisions.

The III Corps of the First Army had managed to retreat to the Lys river with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) divisions nearby. The two surrounded French corps resisted German attacks until forced to surrender at midnight on 31 May/1 June. The defence of the Lille Pocket enabled more Allied troops to retreat into the Dunkirk perimeter and take part in the Battle of Dunkirk.

Previously, during the morning of 27 May 1940, the 1st Panzer Division attacked Gravelines on the western side of the Dunkirk perimeter and cut off the garrison and its commander, général de corps d'armée Bertrand Fagalde was captured; the remaining French fought on. To the south, German panzers crossed the river Aa and other German troops advanced on Wormhoudt. Two panzer divisions crossed La Bassée Canal and overran the British 2nd Division. The 7th Panzer Division rushed the gap and reached the X Armeekorps, cutting off the Allied troops in Lille. On the night of 27/28 May, the BEF divisions near Lille were able to retreat over the Lys but only the three infantry divisions of the III Corps (général de corps d'armée Léon de la Laurencie) of the French First Army (General René Prioux) managed to get away. Many of the French units that had retreated from much further south were still in the salient around Lille when the 6th Army (Generalleutnant Walther von Reichenau) surrounded the city.

The forces in Lille, commanded by Général de corps d'armée Jean-Baptiste Molinié, were fortunate that a patrol captured Generalleutnant (Lieutenant-General) Fritz Kühne, commander of the 253rd Infantry Division and recovered documents showing the positions of the German troops surrounding the city. Molinié used the information to plan a breakout for 28 May. At 7:30 p.m. the IV Corps (général de corps d'armée André Boris) and V Corps (General Darius Bloch) attempted to break out on the west side of Lille and retreat towards the Lys. The 2e Division d'infanterie nord-africaine (2e DINA, Major-General Pierre Dame) tried to cross the Deûle river over the bridge to Sequedin (just south of Lomme). The 5e Division d'infanterie nord-africaine (5e DINA, Major-General Augustin Agliany) tried to escape over the Moulin Rouge bridge on the Santes road, south of Haubourdin. Another attempt was made during the morning of 29 May; the Germans had mined the bridge but two French tanks and two companies of infantry got across but were then forced back.

Molinié and five divisions of the First Army fought from house to house in the suburbs of Lille, German troops trying to infiltrate the French defences through gaps and among the many civilian refugees stranded in the city. On 29 May, the 15e DIM surrendered; with food and ammunition dwindling, Molinié and Colonel Aizier negotiated a surrender and hostilities ended at midnight on Friday 31 May/Saturday 1 June. Molinié, another 349 officers, 34,600 French troops surrendered to the Germans at the Grand Place. The German commander, General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison paraded through the Grand Place, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was reprimanded.

Wehrmacht officers in the Grand Place of Lille. From left to right: Generalmajor Heinrich Meyer-Buerdorf (Artillerie-Kommandeur 27), General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger (Kommandierender General XXVII. Armeekorps), and Oberstleutnant i.G. Hans Speth (Ia XXVII. Armeekorps). The picture was taken during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

Locals in front of the Stadt-Kommandanten (City Commandant) building. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

French prisoners sitting / waiting in front of the "Cafe de la Paix". The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

French Gendarme with arrested civilian in the Grand Place. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

German soldiers patrolling the streets. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

French Refugees with loaded bicycles, loading their belongings onto a truck marked "Lille - Tournai. Flüchtlingstransport" (Lille - Tournai. Refugee transport). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

French Refugees with loaded bicycles, loading their belongings onto a truck marked "Lille - Tournai. Flüchtlingstransport" (Lille - Tournai. Refugee transport). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.



French prisoners of war. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops march past German soldiers and officers on their way to being taken prisoner of war. Looking through a window with a Hakenkreuzflagge (swastika flag). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past German troops and their own officers on their way to captivity. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940. The German commander, General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison paraded through the Grand Place, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was later reprimanded!

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past German troops on their way to captivity. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940. The German commander, General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison marched through the Grand Place of Lille in parade formation with rifles shouldered, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was later reprimanded!

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past German troops on their way to captivity. We can see General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger (Kommandierender General XXVII. Armeekorps) and Generalmajor Heinrich Meyer-Buerdorf (Artillerie-Kommandeur 27) standing below the Corps pennant. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940. The German commander, General Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison paraded through the Grand Place, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was later reprimanded!

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past German troops on their way to captivity. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940. The German commander, General der Infanterie Alfred Wäger, allowed the French the honours of war; the garrison paraded through the Grand Place, as German troops stood to attention, a compliment for which Wäger was later reprimanded!

French soldiers handed over their rifles to the Germans. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

French soldiers handed over their rifles to the Germans. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.



Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past their officers on their way to captivity. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

Surrender of the 1st French Army (1ere armée). French troops marching past the civilian on their way to captivity. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

After the capture. French soldiers on their way to captivity. German soldiers and local civilians watching the action. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Heinz Fremke (Propaganda-Kompanie 689) during the German victory parade in Lille, France, on 1 June 1940.

Source :
Bundesarchiv photo collection
https://9gag.com/gag/aeAo53W
https://www.ebay.de/b/General-in-Militaria-Fotos-1900-1918-1945/15504/bn_7004515776
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Lille_(1940)
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2485291#p2485291