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] entering Belgrade, October, 1944.]] ] entering Belgrade, October, 1944.]]


Resistance during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means like guerrilla warfare, sabotage, propaganda, disinformation, hiding refugees and aiding the other side (like helping stranded pilots). Resistance during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means, ranging from non-cooperation, disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots and even outright warfare, recapturing towns.


Among the most notable resistance movements were the French ], the ], and the Yugoslav ]. Among the most notable resistance movements were the French ], the ], and the Yugoslav ]. The ] was among the fiercest because they were already organised and militant before the war even began and their ideology was the exact opposite of that of the ].


Many countries had resistance movements dedicated to fighting the ] invaders, and Germany itself also had an ]. Although mainland Britain did not suffer invasion in World War II, the British made preparations for a British resistance movement, called the ], in the event of a German invasion. Various organizations were also formed to establish foreign resistance cells or support existing resistance movements, like the British ] and the American ] (the forerunner of the ]). Many countries had resistance movements dedicated to fighting the ] invaders, and Germany itself also had an ]. Although mainland Britain did not suffer invasion in World War II, the British made preparations for a British resistance movement, called the ], in the event of a German invasion. Various organizations were also formed to establish foreign resistance cells or support existing resistance movements, like the British ] and the American ] (the forerunner of the ]).


==Organisation==
__TOC__

After the first shock after the ], people slowly started to get organised, both locally and on a larger scale, especially when Jews and other groups were starting to be deported and used for the ] (working for the Germans). Organisation was dangerous, so much resistance was done by individuals. The possibilities depended much on the terrain. Where there were large tracts of uninhabited land, especially hills and forests, resistance could more easily get organised undetected, such as the ] in Eastern Europe, but also in the densely populated Netherlands the ] wilderness could be used to go into hiding. There were different types of groups, ranging in activity from humanitarian aid to armed resistance, who sometimes cooperated to differing degrees. Resistance usually arose spontaneously, but was helped from London, the 'capitol of the European resistance' (also helping the communist resistance) and Moskow (helping the partizans).

==Forms of resistance==

Various forms of resistance were:
*] - the arbietseinsatz forced locals to work for the Germans, but work was often done slowly or bad
*]s and ]s
*Based on existing organisations, such as the churches, students, communists and doctors (professional resistance)
*Armed
**raids on distribution offices to get food coupons or ]e or on birth registry offices to get rid of information about Jews
**temporary liberation of areas, such as in Yugosalvia and Northern Italy, occasionally in coioperation with the allied forces
**uprisings such as in Warschau in 1943 and 1944
**continuing battle and ] warfare, such as the partizans in the USSR and Yugoslavia and the Maquis in France
*], including sendign wheather reports, which wer of military importance
*Illegal press to counter the nazi propaganda
*Political resistance to prepare for reorganisations after the war. After the war, the resistance took part in forming the new government in the Netherlands
*Help people to go into hiding (eg to escape the arbeitseinsatz). Considering the large number of Jews in the Netherlands and the good administration (making it easy for the Germans to pinpoint Jews) this was one of the main activities there
*Forgery of documents


==Famous resistance operations== ==Famous resistance operations==

Revision as of 20:01, 24 November 2005

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File:PartBelOct44.jpg
Yugoslav partisans entering Belgrade, October, 1944.

Resistance during World War II occurred in every occupied country by a variety of means, ranging from non-cooperation, disinformation and propaganda to hiding crashed pilots and even outright warfare, recapturing towns.

Among the most notable resistance movements were the French Maquis, the Polish Home Army, and the Yugoslav Partisans. The Communist resistance was among the fiercest because they were already organised and militant before the war even began and their ideology was the exact opposite of that of the nazis.

Many countries had resistance movements dedicated to fighting the Axis invaders, and Germany itself also had an anti-Nazi movement. Although mainland Britain did not suffer invasion in World War II, the British made preparations for a British resistance movement, called the Auxiliary Units, in the event of a German invasion. Various organizations were also formed to establish foreign resistance cells or support existing resistance movements, like the British SOE and the American OSS (the forerunner of the CIA).

Organisation

After the first shock after the Blitzkrieg, people slowly started to get organised, both locally and on a larger scale, especially when Jews and other groups were starting to be deported and used for the Arbeitseinsatz (working for the Germans). Organisation was dangerous, so much resistance was done by individuals. The possibilities depended much on the terrain. Where there were large tracts of uninhabited land, especially hills and forests, resistance could more easily get organised undetected, such as the partizans in Eastern Europe, but also in the densely populated Netherlands the Biesbosch wilderness could be used to go into hiding. There were different types of groups, ranging in activity from humanitarian aid to armed resistance, who sometimes cooperated to differing degrees. Resistance usually arose spontaneously, but was helped from London, the 'capitol of the European resistance' (also helping the communist resistance) and Moskow (helping the partizans).

Forms of resistance

Various forms of resistance were:

  • Sabotage - the arbietseinsatz forced locals to work for the Germans, but work was often done slowly or bad
  • Strikes and manifestations
  • Based on existing organisations, such as the churches, students, communists and doctors (professional resistance)
  • Armed
    • raids on distribution offices to get food coupons or Ausweise or on birth registry offices to get rid of information about Jews
    • temporary liberation of areas, such as in Yugosalvia and Northern Italy, occasionally in coioperation with the allied forces
    • uprisings such as in Warschau in 1943 and 1944
    • continuing battle and guerrilla warfare, such as the partizans in the USSR and Yugoslavia and the Maquis in France
  • Espionage, including sendign wheather reports, which wer of military importance
  • Illegal press to counter the nazi propaganda
  • Political resistance to prepare for reorganisations after the war. After the war, the resistance took part in forming the new government in the Netherlands
  • Help people to go into hiding (eg to escape the arbeitseinsatz). Considering the large number of Jews in the Netherlands and the good administration (making it easy for the Germans to pinpoint Jews) this was one of the main activities there
  • Forgery of documents

Famous resistance operations

An intricate series of resistance operations were launched in France prior to, and during, Operation Overlord.

On June 5 1944, the BBC broadcasted a group of unusual sentences, which the Germans knew were code words—possibly for the invasion of Normandy. The BBC would regularly transmit hundreds of personal messages, of which only a few were really significant. A few days before D-Day, the commanding officers of the Resistance heard the first line of Verlaine's poem , Chanson d'Automne, "Les sanglots longs des violons de l'automne" (Long sobs of autumn violins) which meant that the "day" was imminent. When the second line "Blessent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone" (wound my heart with a montonous langour) was heard, the Resistance knew that the invasion would take place within the next 48 hours. They then knew it was time to go about their respective pre-assigned missions. All over France resistance groups had been coordinated, and various groups throughout the country increased their sabotage. Communications were cut, trains derailed, roads, water towers and ammunition depots destroyed and German garrisons were attacked. Some relayed info about German defensive positions on the beaches of Normandy to American and British commanders by radio, just prior to 6 June. Victory did not come easily; in June and July, in the Vercors plateau a newly reinforced maquis group fought 15,000 Waffen SS soldiers under General Karl Pflaum and was defeated with 600 casualties. On June 10 Major Otto Dickmann's troops wiped out the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in retaliation. The resistance also assisted later Allied invasions in south of France in Operations Dragoon and Anvil.

Other famous resistance operations were the Norwegian sabotages of the German nuclear program (see Norwegian heavy water sabotage).

Resistance movements during World War II

Notable individuals

Documentaries

  • Confusion was their business (from the BBC series "Secrets of World War II" is a documentary about the SOE (Special Operations Executive) and its operations
  • The Real Heroes of the Telemark (from the BBC series "Secrets of World War II" is a documentary about the Norwegian sabotage of the German nuclear program

Dramatizations

See also

Categories: