The liberation of Paris by US/French troops has been controversials, as it sent vital units to a target that was deemed null. Strategically, as the battle for the Falaise pocket raged on, many generals lamented that the *”drive for Paris*” had failed to encircle the german troops trap.
However, politically speaki ng , retaking capital was essential, as in 1944, the French high command launched a uprising throughout all of France… and the resistance succeeded; territories were liberated and new authorites were establish.
Since 1943, the French resistance has sought to identify and list officials and prefects loyal to the French Committee of Liberation in order to facilitate the transfer from the Vichy administration to the new French state. It was effective in areas such as Normandy, Provence, and Britanny, where French forces in the interior were supported by allied soldiers and French regulars.
However, they’re the case of New Aguitaine (half of western France and Occitania), which would not see any Allied troops until early October. The region was being liberated by partisans/militias and irregulars, when some hotheads decided it was the best time to… well, take over.
The instance of Ocitania is far more interesting; after being liberated early on by the FFI and isolated, the communists unexpectedly seized over the city, isolating Pierre Bertraux, De Gaulle’s nominated representative of the new authority.
The “soviet of Toulouse” greatly scared De Gaulle, a communist take over in all of France could have potentially led to a brutal civil war.
In this new French ‘red’ state collaborators were killed or tried (but ideally killed), pro-communist media were created as were public and private companies, as well as new socialist legislation were pass.
The most intriguing fact was that there were reports of a collaboration with the Spanish.. to invade Spain.
The “soviets of Toulouse” did not endure long; De Gaulle had to travel to Occitania to calm everyone down, aided by irregulars loyal to him and, of course, the military, Pierre Bertraux was put back in charge, made a compromise with the communist, the Spanish were disarm after their failed offensive in Spain.
Such incidents also occurred in Limousin.
gar1848 on
Kinda remind of Italy, mostly Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, after the end of WW2. The killing of former fascists by partisans (Communists, Socialists and in a couple of cases Christian Democrats) only ended around 1946-1947
Togliatti had to approve a general amnesty for all former soldiers of the Italian Social Republic in order to prevent a full blown civil war
JellyOkarin on
Don’t you mean a rogue “rouge state”?
Falitoty on
Fun fact, IIRC some of the first allied trops to enter Paris, were some US tanks that were driven by Spaniards exiliated after the civil war.
AlphaTNK on
Spain would be a lot better if this adventure were successful.
It’s a shame that the allies allowed Franco to stay in power.
5 Comments
The liberation of Paris by US/French troops has been controversials, as it sent vital units to a target that was deemed null. Strategically, as the battle for the Falaise pocket raged on, many generals lamented that the *”drive for Paris*” had failed to encircle the german troops trap.
However, politically speaki ng , retaking capital was essential, as in 1944, the French high command launched a uprising throughout all of France… and the resistance succeeded; territories were liberated and new authorites were establish.
Since 1943, the French resistance has sought to identify and list officials and prefects loyal to the French Committee of Liberation in order to facilitate the transfer from the Vichy administration to the new French state. It was effective in areas such as Normandy, Provence, and Britanny, where French forces in the interior were supported by allied soldiers and French regulars.
However, they’re the case of New Aguitaine (half of western France and Occitania), which would not see any Allied troops until early October. The region was being liberated by partisans/militias and irregulars, when some hotheads decided it was the best time to… well, take over.
The instance of Ocitania is far more interesting; after being liberated early on by the FFI and isolated, the communists unexpectedly seized over the city, isolating Pierre Bertraux, De Gaulle’s nominated representative of the new authority.
The “soviet of Toulouse” greatly scared De Gaulle, a communist take over in all of France could have potentially led to a brutal civil war.
In this new French ‘red’ state collaborators were killed or tried (but ideally killed), pro-communist media were created as were public and private companies, as well as new socialist legislation were pass.
The most intriguing fact was that there were reports of a collaboration with the Spanish.. to invade Spain.
The “soviets of Toulouse” did not endure long; De Gaulle had to travel to Occitania to calm everyone down, aided by irregulars loyal to him and, of course, the military, Pierre Bertraux was put back in charge, made a compromise with the communist, the Spanish were disarm after their failed offensive in Spain.
Such incidents also occurred in Limousin.
Kinda remind of Italy, mostly Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, after the end of WW2. The killing of former fascists by partisans (Communists, Socialists and in a couple of cases Christian Democrats) only ended around 1946-1947
Togliatti had to approve a general amnesty for all former soldiers of the Italian Social Republic in order to prevent a full blown civil war
Don’t you mean a rogue “rouge state”?
Fun fact, IIRC some of the first allied trops to enter Paris, were some US tanks that were driven by Spaniards exiliated after the civil war.
Spain would be a lot better if this adventure were successful.
It’s a shame that the allies allowed Franco to stay in power.