|
|
 |
|
| ||||||
|
There were a lot of resistance groups in Toulouse. Most of these came from local initiative and later joined national organizations. Toulouse being the regions capital held not only the roots of the resistance but played a central role in the organisation of the resistance. Toulouse served as an important place for passageways into the Pyrenees and was a central point for giving and recieving information. In Toulouse there was a large amount of resistance groups with different political standings These groups fought either together or independantly for the liberation of Toulouse and France. There were not only French involved in the resistance and many foreigners formed their own, or were part of other resistance groups. Italian immigrants who fled Mussolini's regime in the 1920s for example were involved in one of the first resistance groups.The Italian National Liberation commitee(C.I.L.N) was situated in Tououse and had a diverse range of political members; Nino Pelloni for example who was the representant of the Italian socialist party. There were also the Spanish Guerillos. Out of all the Guerillos troops in France, 35% of them were in Toulouse. Some sources even suggest that the total number of active foreign resistors in France was a greater number than the number of French resistors. They participated in many aspects of the resistance. Another less known example of foreign resistance was the group formed by German resistors called "Freies Deutschland"(Free Germany). This resistance group helped organise propaganda. One of the first Toulousan resistance groups to establish direct contact with London was the group Bertaux. This group was responsible for obtaining information, receiving parachutists and sabotages. Thanks to this organisation, the first ever parachuting into the southern zone took place in Pibrac the 11th of September 1941. our school is situated directly qt the foot of Pibrac. Here are examples of some Toulousan resistance groups: SOCIALIST RESISTANCE COMMUNIST RESISTANCE
This Reseau Polonnais F2 was a polish group of fighters present in Toulouse from July 1940. A Polish military demobilisation center was set up where local antennas were established. The Polish in this resistance movement fought alongside the French army. Gallia was a socialist resistance movement in Toulouse which was created in 1940 by Jean Chaubet. This group made anti Vichy propaganda. This group appeared in Spring 1943 and was led by one of the heros of Toulousan resistance Marie Louise Dissart. Nothing could stop this woman from taking a dominant role in this movement. In 1941 she helped members of the Bertaux movement by participating in housing and transporting prisoners through Toulouse. In 1943 this group was dismantled and its leader was imprisoned. Marie Louise, taking matters into her own hands, contacted England and convinced them to let her become chief of this movement. She put in place an organisation consisting of more than 200 members and found a series of hiding places for them. She also helped to smuggle many people to pass into Spain and Andorra. Many people benefited from her successful movement. This group was one of the most famous Toulousan resistant groups. It was created in 1943 by Marcel Taillandier. At the beginning of summer 1943 he decided to create a team against the spies and collaborators of the Vichy regime. This group recieved funds and orders from Barcelona. They had three main goals. One was the elimination of enemy agents, another was to stop the flow of information, a third was to recover and exploit documents taken by the enemy. Many agents were de-masked and eliminated. They executed German agents, collaborators, traitors and other poeple who denounced resistance. This group created greatly intimidated the Toulousan Gestapo. In January 1943 the groups "combat", "liberation" and "franc-tireurs" decided to hold a united front in order to create a united resistance group which was called M.U.R. In June this group was led by François Verdier; a local hero, was thought by many as being the "soul of Toulousan resistance". Socialist Resistance In the Toulousan region the main administrators of this socialist resistance group were R. Naves, Pierre Bourthounieux and Leon Achiary. Many members of this organisation were also invoved in military combat. Over time the relationships with other groups improved resulting in the integration of many other groups: Brutus and Veny. The socialists became well integrated into regional and departemental resistance. Some thought of themselves as the "best" resistance group. Many of this groups ideas were inspired by Silvio Trentin. They insisted on autonomy and refused centralisation. They received help and material from Britain. This group did not only make propaganda leaflets and false papers etc... but also did many sabotaging acts against the enemy. In this group there were Christians, socialists and also communists. Communist Resistance Les F.T.P.F (francs tireurs et partisans français) This group appeared in 1941 in the Toulousan region. Until the southern occupation they were essentially concerned with propaganda. Most of the members, but not all were communist, all fighting for the same cause. Each leader only knew a small fraction of the members to limit risks of uncovering people's identity. In 1944 they received arms which enabled them to help sabotage railways. These sabotaging actions continued until the liberation of Toulouse.
The M.O.I had a specific structure. It recruited its troops from the refugees and from the political and economic immigrants of the region. Its membership was more diverse than many of the other groups containing many French, Italians, German anti-nazis, Spanish, Polish and Hungarians. Women were also involved in the health and information sectors of this group. The rules were strict and each different sector of the group was given an instructor to teach politics whenever necessary. They took direct action against the enemy by sabotages, assasinations or by planting bombs. In January 1943 the leader, Marcel Langer was arrested whilst transporting explosives and condemned to death. The commander Zeef Gottesman took over its direction and commanded the Toulousan troops. Foreign Resistance The Guerrillos were the Spanish troops and also some Italian troops(the Garibaldiens) who fought against the Germans. They took an active part in Toulousian resistance. In August 1944 out of the 10 000 Spanish guerillos in the whole of France, 3500 of these were in Toulouse.These men played a key role in the liberation of Toulouse.
written by Michael and Sarah Grant |
|
|
|
