The weeping Frenchman, 1940

The French were carried through the streets of Marseilles on their way to Africa, weeping as the flag of France fell. The man's face expresses a feeling of sadness so deeply that it exceeds our expectations. The photo has been nicknamed "The Weeping Frenchman" and "The Crying Frenchman" by some other sources.

The French regimental flag was moved to the south of France to avoid surrender. The German armies have buried the glory of France under their feet.

In six weeks, the French army, tortured by the German blitzkrieg, the Maginot Line and all the pride of France were destroyed. The French collapse was as sudden as it was unexpected, a surprise defeat – especially since the French army was considered the most powerful in Europe before the war.

The book "Marseille sous l'occupation" by Lucien Gaillard states that the man in the picture is Monsieur Jerome Barzetti, and that the photograph was taken in Marseille in September 1940. This photo first appeared in Life magazine in their March 3, 1941 issue. ,

The magazine's caption identifies it as "a French man sheds tears of patriotism as the flags of his country's last regiment are exiled to Africa".

In the video footage below (00:27) we can see the French crying as French soldiers march out of France. Judging by the footage, this photo was not taken in Paris (as claimed by multiple sources).

Hitler insisted on signing the document of surrender of France in the same railway carriage as Germany had surrendered in 1918.

The French maintained the railroad car as a memorial to the signing of the armistice that ended World War I twenty-two years earlier. It occupied a sacred place within a small forest north of Paris. The dedication to France was signed at the same location in the same railroad car. The humiliation of France was complete.