Why Was Paris Not Defended by the French in 1940?

One of the main reasons why Paris was not defended in 1940 was to avoid its destruction. The French government, led by Prime Minister Paul Reynaud, decided to declare Paris an "open city" on June 10, 1940, meaning that no military defense would be mounted. This decision was made to spare the city from becoming a battlefield, as the German Luftwaffe had already demonstrated its willingness to bomb cities indiscriminately. The French leadership feared that defending Paris would lead to its ruin, much like what had happened to Warsaw earlier in the war. They were concerned about the massive civilian casualties and the loss of cultural and historical landmarks. Paris was captured by German forces on 14 June 1940.