Resistance fighters and saboteurs.

During the German occupation of Belgium the Réseau de Résistance (RR) arranged the escape and evacuation of Allied air crews shot down over enemy territory. They also worked closely with British SOE who would pass on suitable targets for sabotage missions. Supplying themselves with weapons and explosives stolen from German munitions dumps their most spectacular achievement was the destruction of a railway bridge between the towns of La Gleize and Stoumont. The explosives were detonated as a German troop train approached the bridge, causing the train to plunge into the river killing 600 German soldiers. One faction of the resistance, known as Groupe G carried out numerous successful missions. By the end of the war Groupe G had caused the Germans to expend millions of man-hours repairing the damage done by the RR.

The Front de l'Indépendance (FI) was the hidden face of the Belgian Communist Party after Nazi occupation. The FI was part of an underground European network known by the Abwehr as Die Rote Kapelle (Red Orchestra). One of its leading figures was Leopold Trepper who was an agent for the GRU Soviet foreign intelligence agency until his arrest by the Gestapo in 1942. There were numerous power struggles between the two resistance factions who had very different views on the sort of country Belgium should be after liberation.

Not every Belgian was happy to see the Allies arrive. Until 1920 the East Cantons of the country were part of Imperial Germany. The Treaty of Versailles saw them annexed by Belgium, however the population of these provinces was largely German speaking and many young Belgians considered themselves technically German. After Nazi occupation the Waffen SS regiment Westland was raised from Dutch and Belgian volunteers. Belgians who had collaborated with the Germans were also fearful of the kind of reprisals that had occurred in France after liberation. This was the perfect area of operations for Werwolf (aka Wehrwolf) guerilla bands. These were formed in the spring of 1944 by former officers of the national guard and Waffen SS leaders. Units were deployed in any German borderland area that might be eventually occupied by the Allies. Supplied by large caches of food, weapons and ammunition that had been hidden in remote areas by retreating Wehrmacht troops, they were trained to find targets of opportunity and engaged in sabotage and murder against the occupying Allied armies and civilian “traitors” from the summer of 1944 until well after the end of the war.

On a similar note has anybody seen the film "Female Agents" it's a bloody good film, based very much on true events.

Unissued newsreel footage of French resistance. Some good references for civilian loadouts here

[link]http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=53590[/link]

(these frogs have clearly all been down to Berets R Us)

Some great footage there!
Lots of inspiration for us Frenchies and Belgics.

Thanks Martin.

What a shambles, scruffy unorganised, and weapons discipline? None! Maybe it's a sign of the soft and comfy H&S world we now live in, but I was choking about mags in the safe zone! and the guy with a jam, trying to re cock the gun in a crowd!
Kroot how can you aspire to resemble one of these scruffy individuals
(that actually managed to win the war)
Convert to the smart gucci side and look like a proper soldier!
(that technically lost )

(searches for Gallic Shrug emoticon and sparks up another Galoise)

Beret <check>
Gitanes <check)
Sten <check>
Natty leather jacket <check>
Impressive moustache and std Gallic attitude problems... aaaah. I can do the shrugging but the fuzz may be out.

You're gonna fit in JUST fine.

We did a bit of this last sunday at EAG Worthing. Maquis V nasty germans. The frenchies looked the part avec beret and sten (espec with our dreadful schoolboy french). I'd bought myself an FFI armband a while back but couldnt find it the day before. But with a bit of research and red and blue fabric paint I made me own!

I have a black french beret if anyone wants it?