Figure 1.--With the Allied D-Day landings the French Resistance formed the Forces of the Interior (FFI). And the FFI began to take a more aggressive role. This press photo shows a 13-year old boy in Carpentras active with the FFI. He is holding a French flag. The press caption read, "A Nazi for every year of his life: This well-heeled youngster, Joseph Parrachine, supporting a rifle and a belt of hand grnades, is credited with killing no less than 13 Germans while operating with a unit of the French Forces of th Interior as their mascot. Joseph is only thirteen years old." The photograph was taken September 12, 1944. Carpentras was in southern France and liberated a week or two earlier.

The FFI assisted the Allied forces in Normandy during fighting in the deadly bocage country. They helped with idetifying German dispositions. They also struck at the German logistics train. The most important military action was impeding the movement of the 2nd SS Panzer Division trying to reenforce the German forces in Normandy. This was important because the Allies were most vulnerable on the first few days of the landings. A powerful force like 2ndPanzer was critically needed by the Germans. 2nd Panzer Division was stationed in Toulouse and it was one of the units after D-Day that was ordered to Normandy. Because of the Resistance attacks, it took the Division 11 days to entrain its Panzers. And of course by that time the Normandy bridgehead was firmly established. The frustrated SS Panzer men retaliated with terrible attriities. FFI fighters assasinated Minister of Information and local Milice leader Phillipe Henriot (June 28). The FFI target Vichy officials, especially security forces, because they were so hated and the Germans did not retaliate with mass executions of French civilians as they did when Germans were targetted. Lyon Milice leader, Paul Touvier was responsible for reprisal killings (June 30, 1944). He selected seven Jewish prisoners who were executed by firing squad. As the Allies prepared fpr the Operation Cobra breakout from the Normandy beached, they increased arms deliveries to the FFI. The United States 8th Air Force dispatched five B-17 bombers to drop propaganda leaflets in France and Belgium while five B-24 bombers paradropped supplies to the FFI (July 19). Six United States B-17 bombers dropped propaganda leaflets over France and twelve B-24 bombers dropped supplies to resistance fighters (July 20). The Cobra breakout from Normandy mean that the librtation of large areas of France began. French resistance fighters captured three German posts along the Swiss border (August 16). The most notable FFI action was rising against the Germans in Paris (August 18-25 1944). And the liberation of southern France began with the Allied Dragoon landings (August 15). The Germans already reeling from the Cobra breakout and afraid of being cut off did not attempt to defend southern France in Force. The FFI liberasted Toulouse (August 20).

Normandy

The FFI assisted the Allied forces in Normandy during fighting in the deadly bocage country. They helped with idetifying German dispositions. They also struck at the German logistics train. The most important military action was impeding the movement of the 2nd SS Panzer Division trying to reenforce the German forces in Normandy. This was important because the Allies were most vulnerable on the first few days of the landings. A powerful force like 2nd Panzer was critically needed by the Germans. 2nd Panzer Division was stationed in Toulouse and it was one of the units after D-Day that was ordered to Normandy. Because of the Resistance attacks, it took the Division 11 days to entrain its Panzers. And of course by that time the Normandy bridgehead was firmly established. The frustrated SS Panzer men retaliated with terrible attriities.

Assasinations

FFI fighters assasinated Minister of Information and local Milice leader Phillipe Henriot (June 28). The FFI target Vichy officials, especially security forces, because they were so hated and the Germans did not retaliate with mass executions of French civilians as they did when Germans were targetted. Lyon Milice leader, Paul Touvier was responsible for reprisal killings (June 30, 1944). He selected seven Jewish prisoners who were executed by firing squad.

Arms Supplies

As the Allies prepared fpr the Operation Cobra breakout from the Normandy beached, they increased arms deliveries to the FFI. The United States 8th Air Force dispatched five B-17 bombers to drop propaganda leaflets in France and Belgium while five B-24 bombers paradropped supplies to the FFI (July 19). Six United States B-17 bombers dropped propaganda leaflets over France and twelve B-24 bombers dropped supplies to resistance fighters (July 20).

Cobra Breakout

The Cobra breakout from Normandy mean that the librtation of large areas of France began. The achievements of the FFI in the popular mind are largly focused on the liberation of Faris. Actually they wre far more importnt. The liberation of Paris was more of a French nationl event demanded by De Gualle. If the Allie had avoided Paris, the Hermns woukd have had to Evacuate or surrender. More important was the aid goiven to the Allies armie as they negan the breakout from Normandy. General Patton insisted that the rapid advance of his army through France would have been much slower without the aid of the FFI. FFI units were able to seized bridges that the Germans might otherwise had blown, slowing the llied advance. They began the liberation of villages and towns as Allied units neared, allowing them to rapidly move through. And they gathered intelligence on the dispolsition of German forces as the Allies advanced. A small rear guard strategically placed can slow down attacking forces. The FFI made it much more difficult for the German to place small rear guards. Without this asistance, the rapid Allied advance through Frnce would have been much slower and more costly.

Swiss Border (August 16)

French resistance fighters captured three German posts along the Swiss border (August 16). >br>

Liberating Paris (August 18-25)

The most notable FFI action was rising against the Germans in Paris (August 18-25 1944). The French Government had declared Paris an open city as the Wehrmact approached early in the War (June 1940). As a result the city was largely undamaged. After D-Day Hitler had decided to destroy Paris rather than surrender it to the Allies. The Germans had drawn up a plan to do just this. Charges were placed on bridges, major buildings, and historic monuments like the Eifel Tower. The Paris Ressistance rose up against the German occupation forces as Allied armour divisions raced to cross the Seine. The Allies had decided to bypass Paris as they persued the Germans north. French Forces of the Interior (FFI) attacked Germans retreating through the city. The Germans were pulling out of the city, but still had heavy weapons. The FFI was only lightly rmed. There was intense fighting in the city. About 2,000 civilians were killed, mostly the result of snipers. At first the Allies were going to bypass the city. Pleas from out-gunned resistance fighters caused Eisenhower to change his mind. General Bradley gave the Free French Division commnded by Leclerec the honor of liberating the city. Leclerec raced north to join the resistance fighting in the city. Hitler as the Allies approached ordered the city to be destroyed. The German commander refused to carry out the orders. He was concerned that the SS might arrest him before he could surrender to the Allies. Allied forces entered the city (August 25). The city was in chaos. Celebrations were occuring on one corner and a block away fighting was raging.

Supporting Dragoon (August 15)

And the liberation of southern France began with the Allied Dragoon landings (August 15). The Germans already reeling from the Cobra breakout and afraid of being cut off did not attempt to defend southern France in Force. The FFI liberasted Toulouse (August 20). General Patch who commanded the lndings in southern France estimated that from the time his mnen landed in southern Frnce to the arrival at Dijon, the FFI provided what amoubted to four full fighting divisions.

Created: 6:41 PM 11/7/2014
Last updated: 7:20 AM 4/18/2015