The Eiffel Tower and Paris’ payback on Hitler

The year was 1940. Germany had made its way into France and occupied almost half the country. Paris, the capital city and the home of the Eiffel Tower, too, was now under Germany’s control.

Hoping to put the German tyrant through misery, the French cut the cables to the Eiffel Tower. They believed Hitler would want to reach the top, for which he would have to climb a little over 1,700 steps along 108 floors! But their hope went in vain; Hitler chose to remain on ground, and sent his men instead to hoist the Nazi flag atop the 300-metre tower. Hitler even ordered his General to raze it to the ground, which the latter defied.

The French ousted the German forces in 1944, setting their land free. The Germans were powerful; yet, all their might could not match that of the Eiffel – or that of the French!

127 years ago, i.e. in 1889, it was on this day that the wrought-iron giant was inaugurated.