However, the exact circumstances of the phrase's usage are disputed.
* Some accounts say Hitler uttered the phrase directly to his generals, expressing concern about the potential destruction of the city.
* Others suggest it was more of a rhetorical question, implying that the Germans were prepared to burn Paris to the ground rather than let it fall into Allied hands.
Regardless of the precise context, "Is Paris burning?" became a symbol of the German leadership's desperation and willingness to resort to extreme measures in the face of defeat.