How did the bridges of Paris almost get destroyed?

During World War II, the bridges of Paris almost got destroyed by the German army. As the Allied forces approached Paris in August 1944, Adolf Hitler ordered the military governor of Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, to destroy the city's bridges over the Seine River. The plan was to prevent the Allies from crossing the river and capturing the city.

Choltitz had explosives planted on several bridges, including the Pont Neuf, the Pont de la Concorde, and the Pont d'Austerlitz. However, he hesitated to carry out the order, knowing that it would result in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the destruction of many historic landmarks.

On August 25, 1944, the French Resistance launched an uprising in Paris. Choltitz was captured by the Resistance and taken to the Hôtel de Ville. He eventually agreed to surrender the city to the Allies, and the explosives on the bridges were defused.

The preservation of the bridges of Paris was a significant victory for the Allies, as it allowed them to cross the Seine River and capture the city with minimal damage. Choltitz was later tried and convicted of war crimes, but he was released in 1953 and died in 1966.