la Résistance Info
- la Résistance
- The name given to the movement which was born in the aftermath of the armistice after the defeat of the French army by the Germans in June 1940. On 18 June General de Gaulle, broadcasting on the BBC from London, called on the French people to carry on the struggle. Meanwhile in Paris Conseils à l'occupé was secretly published by Jean Texcier. Isolated acts of resistance by ordinary people against the occupation developed into organized armed conflict with people from all sections of society taking part. The occupying forces tried to suppress the resistance movement with hostage-taking, torture, executions and reprisals, but by 1941 the résistants were making a significant contribution to the eventual liberation of France in 1944. Memorials throughout France recall their courageous exploits.