Posted on 08/28/2010 1:31:18 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand
To most people, World War II's French Resistance, or Maquis, was a one-dimensional organization. It existed to do one thing: disrupt German operations, communications and transportation, primarily through sabotage and assassination. But the Museum of National Resistance in this suburb outside Paris makes it clear, through displays and archival material, that the Resistance was more complex than that.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The displays here also don't shy away from discussing the very significant rift that existed within the Resistance. One faction was clearly aligned with Gen. Charles De Gaulle and the Free French government headquartered in London, while the other was oriented toward Communism and hoped—once the Nazis were dispatched—that France would become a Soviet-style state. The two sides were mostly able to work together in their common goal of liberating France from the Nazis. In fact, the Socialists were indispensable in organizing labor strikes and protests for better working conditions. Unfortunately, as soon as the Nazis were gone, De Gaulle's government became the target of these protests. Indeed, the rift in the Maquis would set the tone of the debate in French politics for 20 years after the war (and, some would argue, even today).Never know who your political bedfellow might be, these days.
Friend of mine was in a maintainence squadron of F-86F’s that shipped to Le Havre via jeep carrier shortly after the Korean War ended. French dockworkers on a “slowdown” ‘accidentally’ dropped one while winching it off the carrier deck. US Marines & Navy security under arms immediately took control & offloaded the remaining aircraft of the FIW. They’d been briefed to expect that French communists might want to get a peek at that top secret bird.
World War II's French Resistance, or Maquis
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.