Product Description

The French resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II was a struggle in which ordinary people fought for their liberty, despite terrible odds and horrifying repression. Hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen and women carried out an armed struggle against the Nazis, producing underground anti-fascist publications and supplying the Allies with vital intelligence. Based on hundreds of French eye-witness accounts and including recently-released archival material, The Resistance uses dramatic personal stories to take the reader on one of the great adventures of the 20th century. The tale begins with the catastrophic Fall of France in 1940, and shatters the myth of a unified Resistance created by General de Gaulle. In fact, De Gaulle never understood the Resistance, and sought to use, dominate and channel it to his own ends. Brave men and women set up organisations, only to be betrayed or hunted down by the Nazis, and to die in front of the firing squad or in the concentration camps. Over time, the true story of the Resistance got blurred and distorted, its heroes and conflicts were forgotten as the movement became a myth. By turns exciting, tragic and insightful, The Resistance reveals how one of the most powerful modern myths came to be forged and provides a gripping account of one of the most striking events in the 20th century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43331 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'A fine piece of work, illustrated with excellent photographs . . . a successful tribute to extraordinary men and women' --Sunday Times

Review
'Makes the excitement and danger of the period palpable and allows a greater understanding of what it must have been like'

Review
'Cobb comes perhaps closer than any other historian to explaining why the Resistance matters'

Customer Reviews

Deserving a wide audience
With all of the justified interest attached to Word War Two it is surprising how few books are devoted to this important topic. At least in English. So the few that are available have to be good and they have to be comprehensive. I have given five stars to Cobb's book for three reasons.
First it is wide ranging but also manages to be detailed and well balanced. Second it is a really good read and draws its strength from ample inclusion of memoirs and reflections of participants. Finally, as with all good books, it is a labour of love.
This is an excellent introduction for those new to the subject. But there is much that will interest readers who have a fuller knowledge of the subject matter. For example it throws new light on the relationship of the Resistance to the Allies on and around D-Day.
I would congratulate the writer on his ability to describe the many faces of the resistance and its internal dynamics - no easy task as so much of it remains covered in secrecy, even today. All serious accounts of the war on the Eastern front now require consideration of the activities of partisans. Cobb has ensured that the same honour must now be afforded to the Resistance in any account of the war in the West.

An excellent work, very readable and extremely informative
Cobb conveys vividly and with insight the tensions, internal conflicts, political problems, and (often lethal) dangers associated with resistance activities in wartime France. Even those who have previously studied this important period in modern French history will benefit from reading this book - and for those with little knowledge of the subject it will provide a comprehensive and easily understood overview of complex events, set within a wider political and military framework.
The author's enthusiasm for his subject is reflected in the style of writing, which makes for easy reading.
The book deserves to be widely read. It contains an extensive bibliography, which will be valuable to both serious scholars and general readers.

great book about important event in the modern history
When time goes by, the new generations are loosing the perspective of the history of mankind and books as such is a keen reminder of the good and evil in the world, what right and what is wrong. The French resistance as a great example of anti-fascist movement of 20th century is relevant as ever in this time of globalization of the extreme right (fascist) forces as witnessed by the latest EU elections. Great read and great reminder of everyone who contributed into victory over nazism. While the bitterness that the modern events after 64 years took defeat from the jaws of victory.