def return_first_elements(paths):
    """
    From a list of paths, return the first elements of each path (directory).
    :param paths: a list of strings of directories
    :return: a list of strings of the first elements of each path (directories)
    """

    first_elements = ['\\'.join(path.split('\\')[:-1]) + '\\' for path in paths]

    return first_elements