During World War I, France was faced with a dilemma. Paris, the capital city of France, was in danger of being bombed by the Germans.
The French government had to come up with a plan to protect Paris from potential air raids. The solution? Build a fake Paris.
Yes, you read that right. The French government decided to build a fake Paris to deceive the German bombers and divert their attention away from the real city. The fake Paris was meant to be a decoy, complete with replicas of famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
Why did France build a fake Paris?
As mentioned earlier, the purpose of building a fake Paris was to protect the real city from potential air raids by German bombers. During World War I, bombers were used extensively for aerial attacks on cities. These bombings caused significant damage and loss of life.
The French government knew that Paris would be one of the primary Targets for German bombers. At that time, Paris was not well-equipped to handle such an attack. Therefore, building a decoy city seemed like a viable option.
How was the fake Paris built?
Building a replica of an entire city is no easy feat. However, France managed to do it with great precision and detail.
The fake Paris was built in an area called Seine-et-Marne, about 20 miles away from the real city. The replica covered an area of about 1/10th of actual Paris and included replicas of famous landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
The buildings were made using wood and canvas and were designed to look like actual buildings from a distance. There were even streetlights that lit up at night to give the illusion that people were living there.
- The replica Eiffel Tower was built at three-quarters scale
- The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was built at half scale
- The Champs-Élysées was shortened to fit within the replica Paris
Did it work?
Did the fake Paris actually deceive the German bombers? The answer is unclear.
There are no records of any direct attacks on the fake city. However, it is possible that German pilots were able to distinguish between the real and fake Paris.
It’s also worth noting that building a fake city was not a new idea during World War I. Both Britain and Germany had built similar decoys to protect their cities from air raids.
The legacy of Fake Paris
The fake Paris may seem like a strange and unnecessary project, but it served an important purpose during World War I. It showed that France was willing to take creative measures to protect its citizens and its cultural heritage.
Today, the replica buildings have long since disappeared, but the legacy of Fake Paris lives on. It serves as a reminder of France’s resilience during one of the most difficult times in its history.
In conclusion, France did indeed build a fake Paris during World War I as a decoy to protect the real city from potential air raids. While it is unclear if it actually worked, it remains an interesting and unique piece of history that showcases France’s determination to protect its beloved capital city.