Sham Paris

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception


under camouflage - America's solution to fooling bombers

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At the end of the first world war a replica of Paris was built to fool German bombers.  On the 93rd anniversary of the Armistice, archives have revealed a plan with sham streets lined with electric lights, replica buildings, even the Gare du Nord train station, the Arc de Triomphe and Opera and industrial suburbs Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers were all built as doubles.

As the conflict neared its end the Difense Contre Avions responsible for defence against air attacks began building the replica.

Private firms were contracted to create the second 'City of Light' - wooden replicas were finished with incredible detail including translucent paint to create the effect of dirty glass roofs of factories.

Alas the replica was not complete by the last raid in September of 1918 and therefore was never tested although the city did escape both wars largely unscathed.