It is early morning on 23rd June 1940.
Paris has been occupied for over a week. An armistice was signed in the same railway carriage, at the same spot in the Forest of Compiègne where Foch had imposed terms on the German delegation in 1918.
At Le Bourget the light catches a military transport aircraft landing. Hitler and his entourage (including Albert Speer, Hermann Giesler and Arno Breker, his favourite architects and sculptor respectively) are aboard, having flown from the Führer's temporary HQ near Sedan.
The party had left at 3am, with the civilians in borrowed uniforms as Hitler would not permit civilians in his party on captured territory.
They drive through the awakening suburbs directly to the Paris Opera House, where they are met by Colonel Hans Spiedel of the Occupation Authority.
According to Speer's account, Hitler is fascinated by the imposing building and inspects the opulent décor minutely, having studied the building plans.
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