The battle of the Vercors Plâteau

I have always had the greatest interest in the lesser known theatres of battle of World War Two but until I saw National Geographic’s excellent documentary on the Vercors Plâteau I had never heard of this engagement in July and August 1945.

To the rallying call of Charles de Gaulle the FFI (Force Française  Interieur) – better known as la Maquis  (Resistance) – occupied this plateau to the south of Grenoble and declared it a Republic.

The FFI numbered 4,000 Maquisards but the German force of 10,000 outnumbered them.

They also had an elite mountaineering corps to take 5 of the 6 passes.

The Maquis fought to the bitter end – and had to – as they were not regarded as a conventional army but rather terrorists as Germany only recognised the Vichy régime.

Hence any one captured was liable to be tortured.

Typical of the Resistance was Pierre Blanc, who occupied a cave and held off the attack on the sixth pass.

Although the Allies dropped some weaponry there were no reinforcements and the Operation Dragoon landing in the South of France was too late.

It’s surprising Vercors is not writ larger in French history as it contradicts the notion of the passive input of the Resistance.

It probably held up German defence of the South of France as they committed 10,000 troops but it proved a doomed defence.