The Victory Parades

November 14, 1918, saw the first victory celebration as French and Allied forces marched through liberated Strasbourg. Alsace-Lorraine's return after 48 years fulfilled France's deepest aspiration. Crowds wept as French soldiers entered cities that had been German since 1871. Yet integration proved complex—two generations had grown up under German rule, speaking German, educated in German systems.

The great victory parade of July 14, 1919, demonstrated France's survival and transformation. Marshals Joffre, Foch, and Pétain led troops down the Champs-Élysées through the Arc de Triomphe. Colonial troops marched in place of honor, their inclusion recognizing their sacrifice. Mutilated veterans in wheelchairs preceded the able-bodied, making visible war's cost.

Yet the parade revealed tensions beneath celebration. Clemenceau, the "Father of Victory," was absent—shot by an anarchist protesting the war. Socialist deputies boycotted, denouncing militaristic display. Veterans' groups complained about inadequate recognition. Colonial soldiers noted they would return to subjugation despite their service. Women, whose contribution had been essential, were excluded entirely.

Provincial celebrations showed local variations. In the devastated regions, joy was muted by destruction's visibility. Villages that had lost entire male populations held memorial services rather than celebrations. In the south, less affected by fighting, celebrations were more exuberant but also revealed resentment from regions that had sacrificed more.