Radio Paris
Encyclopedia
Radio Paris was a French radio broadcasting company best known for its Axis propaganda broadcasts in Vichy France
during World War II
.
Radio Paris evolved from the first private radio station in France, called Radiola
, founded by pioneering French engineer Émile Girardeau
in 1922. It became Radio Paris on March 29, 1924, and remained so through June 17, 1940, transitioning to state ownership in December 1933 as the premier station in the country. It kept its name from July 1940 until August 1944, but the station was then run by Nazis and French collaborators.
From 1940, collaborationist voices on Radio Paris included Jacques Doriot
and Philippe Henriot
. From 1942, Jean Hérold-Paquis
broadcast daily news reports on Radio Paris, in which he regularly called for the "destruction" of the United Kingdom. His catch phrase was England, like Carthage, shall be destroyed!
Its broadcasts were pitched directly against the BBC
broadcasts of Free French figures like Pierre Dac
, who sang the taunting refrain, Radio Paris ment, Radio Paris ment, Radio Paris est allemand (Radio Paris lies, Radio Paris lies, Radio Paris is German), to the tune of La Cucaracha
. On 8 May 1942 its transmitter in Bourges
was blown up by the Resistance
.
The station was shut down on the evening of 15 August 1944 by a trained police commando
action, as part of the liberation of Paris
.
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Radio Paris evolved from the first private radio station in France, called Radiola
Radiola (radio station)
Radiola was a privately owned French radio station which broadcast under that name from 6 November 1922 until 28 March 1924, to promote the Radiola radio receivers produced by the SFR. It made its first test transmissions on 26 June 1922 and broadcast its first news bulletin on 6 January 1923...
, founded by pioneering French engineer Émile Girardeau
Emile Girardeau
Émile Girardeau was a French engineer, famous for being the first person to patent the original system of frequencies that is used today and known as the radar...
in 1922. It became Radio Paris on March 29, 1924, and remained so through June 17, 1940, transitioning to state ownership in December 1933 as the premier station in the country. It kept its name from July 1940 until August 1944, but the station was then run by Nazis and French collaborators.
From 1940, collaborationist voices on Radio Paris included Jacques Doriot
Jacques Doriot
Jacques Doriot was a French politician prior to and during World War II. He began as a Communist but then turned Fascist.-Early life and politics:...
and Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot
Philippe Henriot was a French politician.Moving to the far right after beginnings in Roman Catholic conservatism in the Republican Federation, Henriot was elected to the Third Republic's Chamber of Deputies for the Gironde département in 1932 and 1936...
. From 1942, Jean Hérold-Paquis
Jean Hérold-Paquis
Jean Auguste Hérold, better known as Jean Hérold-Paquis , was a French journalist who fought for Franco and the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. In 1940 he was appointed as Delegate for Propaganda in the Hautes-Alpes department by the Vichy authorities...
broadcast daily news reports on Radio Paris, in which he regularly called for the "destruction" of the United Kingdom. His catch phrase was England, like Carthage, shall be destroyed!
Its broadcasts were pitched directly against the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcasts of Free French figures like Pierre Dac
Pierre Dac
André Isaac , better known as Pierre Dac was a French humorist and Résistance activist.He was born in Châlons-sur-Marne and died in Paris....
, who sang the taunting refrain, Radio Paris ment, Radio Paris ment, Radio Paris est allemand (Radio Paris lies, Radio Paris lies, Radio Paris is German), to the tune of La Cucaracha
La Cucaracha
"La Cucaracha" is a traditional Spanish folk corrido that became popular in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. It has additionally become a verse played on car horns.-Origins:...
. On 8 May 1942 its transmitter in Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
was blown up by the Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
.
The station was shut down on the evening of 15 August 1944 by a trained police commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
action, as part of the liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
.