Honorable Facts About The WWII Resistance
Stories about the resistance movements during WWII continue to fuel much of our cultural imagination about the armed conflict, from Hollywood depictions to novels and documentaries.
Even today, we continue to discover narratives of those who opposed autocratic rule throughout Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as resistance against colonial powers in various regions around the world.
Resistance forces went by many names and, and they were filled with many heroic individuals performing impressive feats. Some were veterans from the armed forces, some were farmers, while others were students and teachers.
Here are 42 facts and stories about WWII’s greatest resistance fighters.
42. Preparing for the Fight
Even though Britain was never occupied by Germany during the WWII era, with the potential peril persistently present across the waters, MI6 conceived "Section VII" in anticipation of possibly having to combat an occupation.
These British groups also assisted in establishing or supporting resistance cells across Europe occupied by the Third Reich.
41. Widespread Resistance
Almost all regions across Europe under occupation during WWII contained some form of resistance movement. Poland, Italy, Belgium, Holland, France, Yugoslavia, Denmark, and Greece all had groups dedicated to fighting occupation.
All told, there were 16 main groups throughout Europe.
40. Seeing the Forest Through the Trees
Anti-occupation resistance was not only aimed at the Axis powers during WWII. A resistance group known as the Forest Brothers sprang up in the region of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The group was primarily focused on engaging in guerrilla conflicts against the Red Army of the Soviet Union. The Forest Brothers resistance actually dates back before WWII.
The term was first applied to those in the Baltic regions who sought refuge in the forests of the region during the Russian Revolution of 1905. Until 1918, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia were all a part of the Russian Empire.
39. Wolf Like Me
Sometimes resistance comes from within the ranks. The July Plot is a renowned example of a planned coup targeting a key figure, which was executed by German officers in 1944.
Officer Claus Von Stauffenberg transported an explosive device, hidden within a suitcase, to a significant meeting at the "Wolf's Lair". He placed it under the table close to where the German leader was sitting.
The explosive device did indeed detonate as anticipated, but not before the briefcase had been shifted by an oblivious officer attending the meeting. Although four officers lost their lives, the escape was successful without any harm.
