World War Two: The French Resistance

The Beginnings of Resistance surrender of France in June 1940 major blow to French pride; humiliation the government had let the people down Nazi-approved Vichy government, primarily in the centre and south of the country North was occupied by German forces and people were at their mercy

Led Astray aftermath of surrender = period of shock Public felt misled Blitzkrieg resistance movement developed to serve three main purposes: to provide intelligence to attack the Germans to assist the escape of Allied airmen

Petain Vichy Government set up by the Germans and governed by Marshall Phillippe Pétain no German occupation of the Vichy area Petain’s leadership gave it some stability; however, he collaborated with the Nazis (sending Jews to concentration camps) some French understood German appeasement

de Gaulle June 18th, 1940, Charles de Gaulle addressed French people from London Called on them to fight and resist Germans “Is the last word said? Has all hope gone? Is the defeat definitive? No. Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not die and will not die.”

Growing Resistance Vichy collaboration with Germans = growing French resistance resistance movement got off to a difficult start however, by June 1941, more organized resistance included: listening to the BBC, strikes and demonstrations, wearing the Lorraine cross, sabotage, attacks on the occupants’ property, propaganda

Types of Resistance some groups were violent in nature, aiming to hurt or kill the German occupiers (maquis) other groups used non-violent means, publishing underground newspapers and broadcasting anti-German and anti-Vichy radio programs

Complete Occupation On November 11th 1942, German forces occupied the whole of France More people joined resistance in an act of overall refusal angered by the compulsory labour service (sent to Germany to work) treatment of the Jews was a major cause of resentment

British Support British government and de Gaulle had a difficult relationship But in October 1941, reached a compromise with regards to resistance operations de Gaulle set up a Central Intelligence and Operations Agency with the support of the British

Sabotage resistance became more effective in 1943 attacks on the French rail system between January and June 1943, 130 acts of sabotage against rail lines each month by September 1943, 530 = disruption to the Germans and their ability to move equipment

Rapid Growth by 1944,100,000 members of various resistance movements (up from just 40000) many women joined; weren’t suspected Madame Lauro poured hydrochloric acid on German food supplies in freight cars worked alone and was never caught Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was caught but slipped through bars in prison window

Maquis guerrilla fighters etymology: maquis—bushes along country roads hid in the bushes, darting out to kidnap and execute German Army officers

Approaching D-Day In the build up to D-Day, the intelligence they gathered was vital In May 1944 alone, they sent 3,000 written reports to the Allies and 700 wireless reports Between April and May, the resistance destroyed 1,800 railway engines

German Response initial German response was that of annoyance soon turned into great frustration to counter the resistance movement, German forces employed a policy to rule by iron fist, including later retribution operations against innocent civilians Many leaders of the resistance were sent to concentration camps and executed

Legacy large uprising in Paris led to the liberation of the French capital on August 25th , 1944 resistance movement allowed France to ensure its independence in post-war Europe (and a spot in the UN Security Council) made it possible to unify French people and restore the Republic women’s suffrage granted by interim government in 1944 in Algiers