World War II in Pictures- American journalist William Shirer, seen here on the right, types up his despatch on the signing of the French-German Armistice at Compiègne, 22 June 1940.

Shirer was not meant to be present at the ceremony at all, nor was any foreign journalist. However, Shirer had the help of a German unsympathetic to Hitler to get to the site and to witness the proceedings.