Les Landes airdrop

Site of 2 parachute drops of arms and ammunition in autumn 1943. From November 1943 to March 1944, a series of arrests decimated part of the Buckmaster network. Of the 14 members (Jules Cavé, Joseph Esnault, Arsène Gautier, Félicien Gautier, Georges Gautier, Francis Gautier, Raoul Giquel, Raphaël Gicquel, Marcel Guibert, Félix Lévêque, Roger Lévêque, Pierre Morvan, Louis Plessis, Lucien Plessis) , 9 did not return from the concentration camps.

Text of the panel:

THE BUCKMASTER OSCAR NETWORK

Among the first events of the Second World War, the fall of Dunkirk in June 1940 symbolized the loss of the European continent to the Nazi army. Churchill realized that reconquest would require guerrilla warfare and intelligence gathering.

He decided to coordinate these actions under the leadership of the S.O.E. (Special Executive Operations), whose "France" section was entrusted to Colonel Buckmaster. Captain François Vallée, known as Oscar, was network leader for Ille et Vilaine, Côtes du Nord, Morbihan and Loire Inférieure.

The success of the network's missions depended on parachute drops of weapons, radio equipment and money.

For this sector, three operational groups were set up at Martigné Ferchaud, Châteaubriant and Fercé. The latter will be responsible for receiving two parachute drops in this area, bordering Fercé, Rougé and Soulvache. A third parachute drop was made east of Fercé, with the support of the Châteaubriant group, all in autumn 1943.

From November 43 to March 44, one arrest followed another, almost completely decimating the network. Arrest was followed by deportation to concentration and, for some, extermination camps.

Of the fourteen members of this group, nine did not return from the camps, while five survived to bear witness to the malnutrition, forced labor and dehumanization they experienced.

Each, in their own way, left their mark on local history and, more broadly, on the history of a France struggling against a barbaric regime. In so doing, they demonstrated the superiority of the human spirit over all attempts at degradation, the capacity to resist in the face of destructive endeavors, and the strength of dignity when it stands up to the basest instincts.

Let us remember

Association des Résistants Déportés de Fercé Rougé Soulvache

Contribution and photo credit Le Bourvellec Eric

Site of 2 parachute drops of arms and ammunition in autumn 1943. From November 1943 to March 1944, a series of arrests decimated part of the Buckmaster network. Of the 14 members (Jules Cavé, Joseph Esnault, Arsène Gautier, Félicien Gautier, Georges Gautier, Francis Gautier, Raoul Giquel, Raphaël Gicquel, Marcel Guibert, Félix Lévêque, Roger Lévêque, Pierre Morvan, Louis Plessis, Lucien Plessis) , 9 did not return from the concentration camps.Text of the panel:THE BUCKMASTER OSCAR NETWORKAmong the first events of the Second World War, the fall of Dunkirk in June 1940 symbolized the loss of the European continent to the Nazi army. Churchill realized that reconquest would require guerrilla warfare and intelligence gathering.He decided to coordinate these actions under the leadership of the S.O.E. (Special Executive Operations), whose France section was entrusted to Colonel Buckmaster. Captain François Vallée, known as Oscar, was network leader for Ille et Vilaine, Côtes du Nord, Morbihan and Loire Inférieure.The success of the network's missions depended on parachute drops of weapons, radio equipment and money.For this sector, three operational groups were set up at Martigné Ferchaud, Châteaubriant and Fercé. The latter will be responsible for receiving two parachute drops in this area, bordering Fercé, Rougé and Soulvache. A third parachute drop was made east of Fercé, with the support of the Châteaubriant group, all in autumn 1943.From November 43 to March 44, one arrest followed another, almost completely decimating the network. Arrest was followed by deportation to concentration and, for some, extermination camps.Of the fourteen members of this group, nine did not return from the camps, while five survived to bear witness to the malnutrition, forced labor and dehumanization they experienced.Each, in their own way, left their mark on local history and, more broadly, on the history of a France struggling against a barbaric regime. In so doing, they demonstrated the superiority of the human spirit over all attempts at degradation, the capacity to resist in the face of destructive endeavors, and the strength of dignity when it stands up to the basest instincts.Let us rememberAssociation des Résistants Déportés de Fercé Rougé SoulvacheContribution and photo credit Le Bourvellec Eric