Thomas F. (hardtack) -
There are many examples of French collaboration with the Germans during World War II, so it is nice to read another tale of French resistance.
A French house painter is working in the office of a German official in northern France. A set of maps is delivered to the official while the painter works on the walls. Suddenly, the Nazi is called from the office. The painter wonders if he is being set up. After awhile, on a whim, he decides to risk it and takes a map marked "Secret" and hides it behind a painting on the wall.
That afternoon he goes home wondering what will happen to him. Fortunately, the Nazi is soon transferred to another area. The painter retrieves the map and delivers it to a Resistance leader. The map makes its way to French headquarters in London, where the intelligence officers are astounded at what they have.
Thus begins the story of a massive undertaking by thousands of ordinary French men, women, and even children to determine the condition of every square foot of French soil along the coast to a kilometer inland. This effort later expands to 40 kilometers inland. In addition to soil conditions, the Allies were given the location of every battery, machine gun, bunker, air field and troop location of the German forces.
Hundreds in the Resistance were captured and brutally killed by the Nazis, but the rest labored on, providing the Allies information used to decide where to invade Europe.
Proving once again that even the more ordinary of men and women can change the course of history.
A French house painter is working in the office of a German official in northern France. A set of maps is delivered to the official while the painter works on the walls. Suddenly, the Nazi is called from the office. The painter wonders if he is being set up. After awhile, on a whim, he decides to risk it and takes a map marked "Secret" and hides it behind a painting on the wall.
That afternoon he goes home wondering what will happen to him. Fortunately, the Nazi is soon transferred to another area. The painter retrieves the map and delivers it to a Resistance leader. The map makes its way to French headquarters in London, where the intelligence officers are astounded at what they have.
Thus begins the story of a massive undertaking by thousands of ordinary French men, women, and even children to determine the condition of every square foot of French soil along the coast to a kilometer inland. This effort later expands to 40 kilometers inland. In addition to soil conditions, the Allies were given the location of every battery, machine gun, bunker, air field and troop location of the German forces.
Hundreds in the Resistance were captured and brutally killed by the Nazis, but the rest labored on, providing the Allies information used to decide where to invade Europe.
Proving once again that even the more ordinary of men and women can change the course of history.
