Battle of Mont Mouchet | |||||||
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Geographic organization of the French Resistance. Mont Mouchet is on the border of R6 and R3 |
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Belligerents | |||||||
French Resistance | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Émile Coulaudon | Curt von Jesser | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
2,700 maquisards | 3,000 german soldiers; unknown number of policemen and Milice Franc-Gardes | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
238 dead, 180 wounded | ? |
The Maquis du Mont Mouchet were a group of French resistance fighters during the Second World War. Based at Mont Mouchet, its goal was to delay the convergence of German forces in the south of France with those in Normandy, in order to aid the allies in the reconquest of France.
The Germans, having discovered the maquis, made several attacks up until May 1944 with about 3,000 men and using aviation and armoured units. The maquisards fought back fiercely.
Little information is available on the German forces. Historians have identified some units:
These were reinforced from:
After several days of combat, the final German attack forced the maquisards to fall back and disperse. Out of revenge for their previous losses, the Germans pillaged several of the surrounding villages, including Clavières.
In the course of the battles, the French Forces of the Interior sustained severe losses: 238 killed and 180 wounded as well as about 100 hostages executed by the Nazis.