The Resistance, 1940 : an anthology of writings from the French underground / edited and translated by Charles Potter.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Potter, Charles, 1944- editor.

Language:

English

French

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements--France--Biography.

World War, 1939-1945.

Guerrillas--France--Biography.

Guerrillas.

France.

World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, French.

Genre:

Biographies.

Personal narratives -- French.

Physical Description:

vii, 262 pages ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Anthology of writings from the French underground

Place of Publication:

Baton Rouge : Louisiana State University Press, [2016]

Summary:

The Resistance, 1940 illuminates the early phase of the French Resistance through first-hand accounts, describing how movements organized themselves in opposition to both German occupation and the collaborationist Vichy government. Translated and annotated by Charles Potter, these writings, composed by French men and women, reveal how the Resistance fighters experienced defeat and resurrection in the pivotal year of 1940. This primary source reader opens with "First Fight," by Jean Moulin, which offers a vivid eyewitness recounting of the collapse of France, penned by arguably the greatest hero of the Resistance. This major historical document is supplemented by three additional accounts of subsequent events. "First Resistance," by Germaine Tillion, who was arrested in 1942 and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp for the duration of the war, depicts the formation of the Groupe du Musée de l'Homme. "National Liberation," by Henri Frenay, who originally supported the Vichy government but quickly became disillusioned, offers details on the planning of the vast resistance network later known as Combat. Finally, "We Were Terrorists," by Jean Garcin, excerpts the memoir of a young Socialist in the southern zone who later headed resistance efforts in the city of Marseilles. Along with these annotated texts, Potter includes an informative introduction and contextualizes each source, positioning the documents within the timeline of events. Taken together, these four seminal accounts from four individual perspectives offer compelling evidence about how and when the French Resistance began.

Contents:

"First resistance in the occupied zone" / by Germaine Tillion

National liberation / by Henri Frenay

We were terrorists / by Jean Garcin

Prologue

My friend, can you hear

Afterword

Timeline, 1939-1945

Glossary of places, people, organizations, and terms.

Notes:

Translated from the French.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780807163924

0807163929

OCLC:

967855144