1942 : Résistance, répression et ralliement

Resistance, repression
rallying

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  • 1942 : Résistance, répression et ralliement

En 1942

Despite a very harsh repression, the population of these two territories showed its attachment to France. People kept speaking French in the streets, in shops, at work. They sang the Marseillaise or the Internationale. The tricolour flag was covertly hoisted, people did graffiti on the walls, and listened to foregin radios… Step by step, some resistance groups were created and organized. They focused on an anti-Nazi propaganda, sabotage, intelligence, weapons collections… The “Main Noire” and the “Groupe Adam” for Alsace, or the “Espoir français” and “Groupe Mario” for Moselle, were the main examples of some of these organisations. 

A lot of inhabitants of Alsace or Moselle, who were living close to the border, helped those who wanted to cross the border. First, they helped the many French was prisoners that had escaped from the German Stalags. Then, from 1941 and especially from the drecrees of August 1942 they helped the recusants to the RAD, the forced enlisted and the escapees. The more important networks were the “Groupe des Purs Sangs” for Alsace and the “Soeur Hélène” and “Novéant” networks for Moselle. 

But Alsace and Moselle were no exception and some persons chose to support the Nazi system. We can mention, for example, the case of the Nanziger. They were former autonomists and separatists, who were made prisoners by France in the beginning of the War and freed with enthusiam by the Nazis. The Nanziger pledged allegiance to Hitler and some of them had responsibilities in the Nazi regime. The SS, the SA, the volunteers, the adherents of the Nazi party and organisations also helped the regime. 

Inhabitants of Alsace and Moselle informed on their neighbours that they suspected to be Francophile or anti-German and they informed on the recusants and their family…