It is often the case that occupiers of a country will find that their occupation is not appreciated by much of the country that has been taken over. Often civilians will do everything they can to thwart the invaders. While that may be something as small as giving wrong directions or producing products that are slightly out of specifications, it can be something much larger and become armed resistance.

Such was the case in France during the German occupation of WWII. As Germany had established a program of taking able-bodied people and forcing them to work in German factories to allow their own men to fight, often these young men and women would flee to the countryside and join up with the resistance movement. While it all sounds very romantic, in fact these people lived in constant fear of exposure and when caught were generally tortured and then executed.

The French resistance was actually several different organizations that, while not often working in harmony, were working towards a specific goal. They depended on the Allies for equipment and on local Frenchmen for food and shelter. Though the Allies did not always trust the resistance, these people provided the means for the Allied invasion of Normady to be successful by severely slowing the German Army in its rush to send in reinforcements. To such a point that they were either too late or arrived piece-meal and were easier to defeat.

Terry Crowdy tells the story of these people by starting out with the motivation to join the resistance, the different groups at work, how these people lived and obtained supplies, any training given to new members, the tactics they used and what these people did to those who collaborated with the Germans. In the latter, it is estimated that between 10,000 and 100,000 collaborators were executed after the Germans were driven out, so reprisals were nearly as horrific as what the Germans did to the population during their occupation. All of this is further enhanced by the excellent art work of Steve Noon as well as a surprising number of period photographs.

In all, an excellent book on the secret war of those left behind and one that is most highly recommended.

June 2007

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