HISTORY OF MODERN FRANCE

SEASON 3

 

 

80th Anniversary of the Liberation of France 3


15 May 2024

Recording

Zoom lecture


80th Anniversary of the Liberation of France 3

The Women of the French Resistance, 1940-1944

with Mariam Habibi



 A Maquisarde posing with her rifle summer 1944
A Maquisarde posing with her rifle summer 1944


Denise Vernay-Jacob member of the Lyon Resistance was arrested, tortured and sent to Ravensbruck concetnration camp in 1944. She was the sister of future minister of Justice, Simlone Veil.
Denise Vernay-Jacob member of the Lyon Resistance was arrested, tortured and sent to Ravensbruck concetnration camp in 1944. She was the sister of future minister of Justice, Simlone Veil.

In May 1940, the French were shocked to hear that the German troops had succeeded in crossing into France. By mid-June they reached Paris. Armistice was signed on June 22nd. The Republic was dissolved and replaced by a new system of government led by Maréchal Pétain.

 

For many French people this was unacceptable. They started to resist. Some took up arms. Some wrote and distributed pamphlets and newspapers. Some collected intelligence and informed the Allies. Some offered refuge to those hunted by the Germans and the Vichy police and organized the escape of those that were in danger.

 

Women accounted for between 20 to 30 percent of all Resistance members. And yet, only six women have been honored as Companions of the Liberation – Marie Hackin, Berthy Albrecht, Laure Diebold, Marcelle Henry, Émilienne Moreau-Évrard and Simone Michel-Lévy – compared with 1,038 men. Of those that received a medal for having contributed to the Resistance only 8,6% were women. Yet 6,700 women were arrested and deported from occupied France, most of them members of the Resistance.

 

My aim is to talk about these women – those that have been forgotten by history.



You will receive the Zoom meeting details as soon as you register for the chosen lecture(s)

In addition to the May 2024 lectures, a number of recorded lectures on WWII are also available, should you wish to delve deeper into the subject.