Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit addressed Tuesday a letter to his Parisian counterpart Bertrand Delanoe on the occasion the 60th anniversary of Paris' liberation from Nazi occupation, describing Aug. 25, 1944 as the "day of joy and hope for Europe."

"A little more than eight months before the weapons went down definitively in Europe, a news electrified all those who suffered from war, destruction, persecution and barbarism: Paris is liberated," wrote Wowereit. In the letter published Tuesday by the press service of Paris city hall, the mayor of Berlin underlined that "Paris' liberation has been a sign that encouraged the human beings ...even though the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation cost countless victims, valorous women and men who risked their lives for the liberation of their motherland".

"There was also among them a series of German elements of resistance. They fought not only the barbarism perpetrated on the name of their people. They were also among pioneers of French-German friendship," said Wowereit.

After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris was liberated by the 2nd French Armored Division and the 4th US Infantry Division on the night of Aug. 24-25, 1944.

German resistance, originally heavy, was melted away as morning approach, and most of the 20,000 German troops surrendered or fled.

The next day, General Charles de Gaulle, head of France's provisional government in London, led a joyous march down the Champs Elysee Avenue.

French President Jacques Chirac will preside over on Aug. 25, the official day of liberation which will see some ceremonies including a parade of military vehicles and marches to commemorate French and American troops' role in Paris liberation. No high US official was expected to be present at the ceremonies.

Source: Xinhua