The project (English version)

Several hundred thousand French colonial subjects and citizens lived in Metropolitan France during the years of the German Occupation (1940-1945). Some were there temporarily, either as prisoners of war held in German Fronstalags, or as conscripted labourers recruited to support industrial and agricultural production while French men were fighting or held in captivity.

Others belonged to more established communities, including manual labourers in France’s industrial centres, students enrolled in its universities, and colonial administrators or civil servants.

Like their metropolitan French counterparts and other European migrant communities, these individuals responded to occupation and collaborationist rule by choosing to resist and actively participate in the struggle for France’s liberation.

I have identified more than 2500 men and women from all across the Empire who were part of the Internal Resistance during the Occupation.