Liberation of France: only wine left for courage

When Allied forces began operating in Normandy, these four elderly residents of the French town of St Lô hid in wine cellars from the devastating bombardment.

They came out of hiding only after the shelling had stopped and the Americans had complete control of the town. Like many other Frenchmen, these four lost the roof over their heads in the air raids, but they kept their lives and saved the homemade wine of which they were so proud. They then treated their liberators to it.

They, as you can see, toasted their victory over the Germans with gusto. A snapshot of the liberation of France against the backdrop of the rubble was captured by American war photographer Rodger Hamilton in July 1944.