The French Resistance efforts to promote freedom were pivotal because they encouraged others to consider their responsibility to France.
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. Europe at this time was in turmoil, Hitler had come to power and with this Grand Marshall Henri-Philippe Petian of France signed an armistice with Germany (Dear 405). The Germans then divided France up into occupied and unoccupied zones with Germany controlling three-fifths of the country and the remaining part controlled by Petian under the French government (Simkin Online). The French army was then disbanded and the French were forced to pay $120,000,000 as a fine and France also had to pay two billion dollars a year as occupation costs (Polmar 302). The people of France were humiliated by the easy defeat of their country.
The leaders who, for many years past, have been at the head of the French armed forces have set up a government.
Alleging the defeat of our armies, this government has entered into negotiations with the enemy with a view to bringing about a cessation of hostilities. It is quite true that we were, and still are, overwhelmed by enemy mechanized forces, both on the ground and in the air. It was the tanks, the planes, and the tactics of the Germans, far more than the fact that we were outnumbered, that forced our armies to retreat. It was the German tanks, planes, and tactics that provided the element of surprise which brought our leaders to their present plight.
But has the last word been said? Must we abandon all hope? Is our defeat final and irremediable? To those questions I answer - No!
Speaking in full knowledge of the facts, I ask you to believe me when I say that the cause of France is not lost. The very factors that brought about our defeat may one day lead us to victory.
For, remember this, France does not stand alone. She is not isolated. Behind her is a vast empire, and she can make common cause with the British Empire, which commands the seas and is continuing the struggle. Like England, she can draw unreservedly on the immense industrial resources of the United States.
This war is not limited to our unfortunate country. The outcome of the struggle has not been decided by the Battle of France. This is a world war. Mistakes have been made, there have been delays and untold suffering, but the fact remains that there still exists in the world everything we need to crush our enemies some day. Today we are crushed by the sheer weight of mechanized force hurled against us, but we can still look to a future in which even greater mechanized force will bring us victory. The destiny of the world is at stake.
I, General de Gaulle, now in London, call on all French officers and men who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, with or without their arms; I call on all engineers and skilled workmen from the armaments factories who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, to get in touch with me.
Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not and shall not die.
Tomorrow I shall broadcast again from London.
Frenchmen must now be fully aware that all ordinary forms of authority have disappeared.
Faced by the bewilderment of my countrymen, by the disintegration of a government in thrall to the enemy, by the fact that the institutions of my country are incapable, at the moment, of functioning, I, General de Gaulle, a French soldier and military leader, realize that I now speak for France.
In the name of France, I make the following solemn declaration:
It is the bounden duty of all Frenchmen who still bear arms to continue the struggle. For them to lay down their arms, to evacuate any position of military importance, or agree to hand over any part of French territory, however small, to enemy control, would be a crime against our country. For the moment I refer particularly to French North Africa - to the integrity of French North Africa.
The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap. In the Africa of Clauzel, Bugeaud, Lyautey, and Noguès, honour and duty strictly enjoin that the French should refuse to carry out the conditions imposed by the enemy.
The thought that the panic of Bordeaux could make itself felt across the sea is not to be borne.
Soldiers of France, wherever you may be, arise!
The leaders who, for many years past, have been at the head of the French armed forces have set up a government.
Alleging the defeat of our armies, this government has entered into negotiations with the enemy with a view to bringing about a cessation of hostilities. It is quite true that we were, and still are, overwhelmed by enemy mechanized forces, both on the ground and in the air. It was the tanks, the planes, and the tactics of the Germans, far more than the fact that we were outnumbered, that forced our armies to retreat. It was the German tanks, planes, and tactics that provided the element of surprise which brought our leaders to their present plight.
But has the last word been said? Must we abandon all hope? Is our defeat final and irremediable? To those questions I answer - No!
Speaking in full knowledge of the facts, I ask you to believe me when I say that the cause of France is not lost. The very factors that brought about our defeat may one day lead us to victory.
For, remember this, France does not stand alone. She is not isolated. Behind her is a vast empire, and she can make common cause with the British Empire, which commands the seas and is continuing the struggle. Like England, she can draw unreservedly on the immense industrial resources of the United States.
This war is not limited to our unfortunate country. The outcome of the struggle has not been decided by the Battle of France. This is a world war. Mistakes have been made, there have been delays and untold suffering, but the fact remains that there still exists in the world everything we need to crush our enemies some day. Today we are crushed by the sheer weight of mechanized force hurled against us, but we can still look to a future in which even greater mechanized force will bring us victory. The destiny of the world is at stake.
I, General de Gaulle, now in London, call on all French officers and men who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, with or without their arms; I call on all engineers and skilled workmen from the armaments factories who are at present on British soil, or may be in the future, to get in touch with me.
Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not and shall not die.
Tomorrow I shall broadcast again from London.
Frenchmen must now be fully aware that all ordinary forms of authority have disappeared.
Faced by the bewilderment of my countrymen, by the disintegration of a government in thrall to the enemy, by the fact that the institutions of my country are incapable, at the moment, of functioning, I, General de Gaulle, a French soldier and military leader, realize that I now speak for France.
In the name of France, I make the following solemn declaration:
It is the bounden duty of all Frenchmen who still bear arms to continue the struggle. For them to lay down their arms, to evacuate any position of military importance, or agree to hand over any part of French territory, however small, to enemy control, would be a crime against our country. For the moment I refer particularly to French North Africa - to the integrity of French North Africa.
The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap. In the Africa of Clauzel, Bugeaud, Lyautey, and Noguès, honour and duty strictly enjoin that the French should refuse to carry out the conditions imposed by the enemy.
The thought that the panic of Bordeaux could make itself felt across the sea is not to be borne.
Soldiers of France, wherever you may be, arise!
The French Resistance began as an underground movement of soldiers and civilians who tried to liberate France from German occupation.
Early resistance began with irregular guerrilla attacks in the summer of 1940. The Germans retaliated and the resistance shifted to intelligence and weapon gathering. The resistance was based around espionage, guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and propaganda. Spying was the most common form of resistance. The information would eventually make its way to government officials in England. Resistance soldiers would ambush patrols with small arms. One of the main goals for this group was high profile assassinations.
Early resistance began with irregular guerrilla attacks in the summer of 1940. The Germans retaliated and the resistance shifted to intelligence and weapon gathering. The resistance was based around espionage, guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and propaganda. Spying was the most common form of resistance. The information would eventually make its way to government officials in England. Resistance soldiers would ambush patrols with small arms. One of the main goals for this group was high profile assassinations.
Women also helped as lone fighters in the resistance. The Alliance Réseau was one of the first to be organized by the British. They supplied the Alliance network with short wave radios dropped by parachute to Vichy, France. The British supplied the Alliance Network with money. The French resistance worked with the British SOE to get about the German military and their plans. The SOE would send the French resistance questions and they would have to find the answer.
The French Resistance connects to rights and responsibilities because they fought for the right of freedom from occupation and had the responsibility to oust the Germans.
The French Resistance connects to rights and responsibilities because they fought for the right of freedom from occupation and had the responsibility to oust the Germans.