French Resistance

The French Resistance is the name used for resistance movements that fought military occupation of France by Nazi Germany and the Vichy France undemocratic regime during World War II after the government and the high command of France surrendered in 1940. Resistance groups included groups of armed men (usually referred to as the maquis), publishers of underground newspapers or even cinematography and escape networks that helped allied soldiers. French Resistance cooperated with Allied secret services (see Special Operations Executive), especially in providing intelligence on the Atlantic Wall and coordinating sabotages and other actions to contribute to the success of Operation Overlord.

Origins

French resistance could claim its origin externally in Charles de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June (1940) on the BBC where he proclaimed that the war was not over. Marshal Philippe Pétain had already signed the armistice treaty and the formation of Vichy France government had begun. De Gaulle also became a de facto leader of Free France. Internally the Resistance began in the Alpilles and Vaucluse areas in Provence. First acts of resistance were organized by secondary school students on 14 July and 11 November 1940. Also, sabotage actions started, as well as occupation strikes by workers - for instance, miners in Nord and Pas-de-Calais went on strike from 27 May 1941 to 8 June 1941. Students protested during meetings with followers of Pétain. In the opinion of some French historians, armed resistance begun on 21 August 1941 when members of youthful battalions Pierre Georges and Gilbert Brustlein killed aspirant of kriegsmarine Alfons Moser.

Related Topics:
Charles de Gaulle - Appeal of 18 June - 1940 - BBC - Philippe Pétain - Vichy France - Free France - Alpilles - Vaucluse - Provence - 14 July - 11 November - Nord - Pas-de-Calais - 27 May - 1941 - 8 June - 21 August - Pierre Georges - Kriegsmarine

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In addition, there were Belgian, Polish and Dutch resistance networks who cooperated to defeat the Germans. Various groups organized in both occupied France and unoccupied Vichy France. Many of them were former soldiers that had escaped from the Germans or joined the resistance when they were released from prison camps. They hid weapons in preparation to fight again.

Related Topics:
Belgian - Polish - Dutch - Vichy France

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Others were former socialists and communists who had fled the Gestapo. Many of them hid in the forested regions, especially in the unoccupied zone. They joined together to form maquis bands and began to plan attacks against the occupation forces. Some groups also had Spanish members who had fought in the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War.

Related Topics:
Communist - Gestapo - Maquis - Spanish Civil War

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Resistance groups such as the PAT Line established by George Rodocanachi and his wife Fanny Vlasto-Rodocanachi helped Allied pilots who had been shot down to get back to Britain. They minimized the threat of discovery by adopting a cell structure.

Related Topics:
PAT Line - George Rodocanachi - Fanny Vlasto-Rodocanachi - Allied - Cell structure

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