French Resistance Artifacts at Musée de l'Armée

Within the World War II galleries, the section dedicated to the Resistance (La Résistance) is particularly moving. It documents the struggle of the "Army of Shadows" who fought the Nazi occupation from within.

Tools of the Trade

The collection highlights the ingenuity required to fight a guerilla war in an occupied city.

• Clandestine Presses: Small, portable printing presses used to churn out anti-Nazi leaflets and underground newspapers like Combat.
• Radio Sets: The lifelines to London. Suitcase radios used by operators to coordinate dead-drops and sabotage, knowing that detection meant torture and death.
• Sabotage Gear: Explosives disguised as coal or simple tools modified to derail trains.

Uniforms of the Maquis

You’ll see the mismatched clothing of the Maquisards (rural fighters) – civilian clothes mixed with stolen German boots and Allied armbands. It contrasts sharply with the crisp uniforms of the regular armies nearby.

The Verdict

This section is essential for understanding the French psyche. It honors ordinary people—railway workers, students, mothers—who risked everything. The museum does a good job of showing the diversity of the Resistance, from communists to conservative catholics, united against the occupier.