French resistance

The French resistance during World War Two was not a single unified movement. It was a mosaic of factions with different political goals.

The two primary groups were Gaullists or Free French, and the French Communist Party (PCF) united by their opposition to Nazi occupation and the Vichy regime.

Led by General Charles de Gaulle, the Gaullists represented the Free French Forces and a vision of national unity and sovereignty. De Gaulle operated from London and later Algiers, rallying support from abroad and coordinating with internal Resistance groups.

Initially inactive due to the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939), the French Communist Party joined the Resistance after Germany invaded the USSR in 1941. They became one of the most militant and organized factions, especially in urban areas and among workers.

Coordination was difficult early on, but by 1943, the National Council of the Resistance (CNR) helped unify efforts under a broader umbrella. While the French Communist Party and Gaullists cooperated tactically during the war, their ideological differences were stark. Gaullism emphasized French grandeur, independence, and republican values, but was wary of Communist influence.

The French Communist Party gained enormous prestige after the war.