Table of Contents
Why did the French resistance form?
Resistance in France began as soon as the Germans invaded in May 1940. At first, people acted alone, helping Allied prisoners and soldiers to escape from the Nazis, or hiding Jewish people who were being persecuted (badly treated). People wrote and printed leaflets against the Nazis, and distributed them secretly.
How was Vichy France used by the resistance?
They worked alongside German forces that, by the end of 1942, were stationed throughout France. The group collaborated closely with the Nazis, and was the Vichy equivalent of the Gestapo security forces in Germany. Their actions were often brutal and included torture and execution of Resistance suspects.
When was the French Resistance formed?
When France surrendered to Germany on 22 Jun 1940, those who resented Germany occupation and the Vichy government formed cells that collectively were named the French Resistance. Some groups were violent in nature, aiming to hurt or kill the German occupiers; these were called maquis.
Did the French army fight in ww2?
They fought battles all over the world from 1940 to 1945, and sometimes fighting against each other. These forces were composite, made of rebel factions and colonial troops; France controlled a large colonial empire, only third to the British empire.
Who are the French resistance fighters?
List of people involved with the French Resistance
- José Aboulker (1920–2009)
- Berty Albrecht (1893–1943)
- Dimitri Amilakhvari (1906–1942), French-Georgian Prince.
- Louis Aragon (1897–1982), poet, novelist and editor, husband of Elsa Triolet.
- Raymond Aron (1905–1983)
- Pierre Arrighi (1921–1944)
What was Vichy France during World War II?
The German troops occupied the northern half of the country, taking 2 million French soldiers as prisoners of war, while the French government worked from its new base in Vichy, a spa city in the center of the country.
How many Vichy soldiers were there in the Mediterranean area?
Vichy French colonial forces were reduced in accordance with the terms of the Armistice; still, in the Mediterranean area alone, Vichy had nearly 150,000 men under arms. There were about 55,000 in French Morocco, 50,000 in Algeria, and almost 40,000 in the Army of the Levant (Armée du Levant), in Lebanon and Syria.
How many Jews were deported from Vichy France?
All told, the Vichy regime helped deport 75,721 Jewish refugees and French citizens to death camps, according to the BBC. Did the French public support the Vichy leaders?
How did Charles de Gaulle fight against Vichy France?
To counter the Vichy regime, General Charles de Gaulle created the Free French Forces (FFL) after his Appeal of 18 June 1940 radio speech. Initially, Winston Churchill was ambivalent about de Gaulle and dropped ties with Vichy only when it became clear that it would not fight the Germans.