Imagine a city built not to be lived in, but to be bombed. This is the story of the “fake Paris,” a fascinating example of wartime deception. The concept emerged during World War I and was revived during World War II, with the aim of misleading enemy bombers and protecting the real Paris.
World War I: A City of Illusions
The idea of a sham Paris first took root during World War I. Faced with German bombing raids, the French military conceived a plan for a “Paris Leurre” (Sham Paris). Electrical engineer Fernand Jacopozzi, who later illuminated the Eiffel Tower, led the project.
The plan included:
- Replica train stations: Including a recreation of the Gare de l’Est railway station, an early target of German bombers. Jacopozzi used lighting and wooden boards on a conveyor belt to simulate moving trains.
- Factory rooftops: Crafted from painted canvas to mimic the city’s industrial center.
- Sham streets: Lined with electric lights.
However, the war ended before the faux city could be completed, and it never served its intended purpose.
World War II: A More Elaborate Deception
The concept was revisited during World War II. This time, the “fake Paris” project was more ambitious and divided into three zones:
- Zone A: Designed to resemble the residential areas of Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers, complete with fake train stations.
- Zone B: A replica of the heart of Paris, including landmarks like the Champ de Mars, the Champs-Élysées, the Trocadéro Palace, and a massive Arc de Triomphe replica.
- Zone C: Represented the industrial center, featuring empty wooden factories, train yards, rails, and even locomotives.
The aim was to create a realistic replica that would draw German bombers away from the real city. Ingenious methods were employed, such as using translucent fabrics to simulate light shining through dirty windows and blinking lights to mimic movement.
While the “fake Paris” of World War I was never finished, the more elaborate project of World War II also remained incomplete. Nevertheless, it stands as a testament to the creative measures taken during wartime to protect lives and infrastructure.
Would you like to know more about similar deception tactics used in wartime?
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