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A false Paris outside Paris: A city created to be bombed, 1920
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A false Paris outside Paris: A city created to be bombed, 1920
A page from the Illustrated London News, 1920, illustrating a sham Paris, created to trick German pilots flying at night into thinking they were bombing Paris during World War One. A false railway is shown in day light, and a stretched canvas, made to represent la Gare d est from the air, is shown at the top of the page.
1920
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Media ID 7200981
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10547831
Article Bombarded Camouflage Deception Deceptive False Illusion Journalism Maisons News Paper Report Reportage Sham Trick Conflans Honorine Subterfuge Ww 1
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EDITORS COMMENTS
A False Paris Outside Paris: Deception and Subterfuge during World War One This intriguing image from the Illustrated London News in 1920 showcases an ingenious example of military deception during the First World War. The photograph captures a 'false Paris' created to protect the real city from German air raids. In the early days of aerial warfare, German pilots flying at night were bombarding Paris indiscriminately, causing significant damage and loss of life. To counter this threat, the French military and civilians came up with a clever solution. They constructed a 'sham Paris' or 'conflans' near the town of Laffitte, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Paris, to mislead the German pilots. The false city was designed to look like Paris from the air, complete with a deceptive representation of the Gare d'Est railway station at the top of the page. The image reveals a false railway and other structures that mimicked the layout of Paris. The canvas used to create this illusion was stretched over a large area, making it difficult for German pilots to distinguish the real Paris from the fake one. The Illustrated London News reported on this ingenious deception, documenting the efforts to save Paris from the ravages of war. The article, titled 'A False Paris Outside Paris,' highlighted the importance of camouflage and subterfuge in the context of modern warfare. The photograph serves as a testament to the resourcefulness and resilience of the French people during a time of great adversity. This deceptive representation of Paris was a vital part of the war effort, saving countless lives and minimizing the damage to the city. The use of such innovative tactics demonstrates the power of journalism in documenting and reporting on the realities of war, while also highlighting the human ingenuity and determination to protect and preserve.
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