1. World War Two: The French Resistance

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.”

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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