Maquis de Rieumes
Encyclopedia
The Maquis de Rieumes was one of the maquis
groups of French resistance
fighters during the Second World War.
In 1942, the Juge d'instruction of Muret
, André Reboul, along with other patriots, founded the group which in 1944 would become the Maquis de Rieumes.
In 1943, the group reinforced itself and was joined by, among others, Jules Delattre, a retired air force captain who would become the commander of the Maquis de Rieumes. It was also joined by some other Rieumois: Doctor Robert Roger (Médecin Capitaine de réserve), Doctor Charles Chwartz (Médecin Lieutenant de réserve), Jean Lécussan (a retired army Adjudant chef).
The year 1943 was devoted to recruitment, training and to the organization of teams in the villages of the cantons of Auterive
, Carbonne
, Muret
and Rieumes
.
In 1944, events gained momentum following parachute drops announced by radio Londres
, and an arms depot was set up in Rieumes.
On 1 June, battle stations were announced with the message "Messieurs, faites vos jeux".
On the 5th, two more messages, "Le père la Cerise est verni" and "Veronese était un peintre" communicated the Normandy landings.
In the night, the teams met up in the wooded part of Rieumes and divided themselves into three companies, one of which was based in the forest of Lautignac-Savères.
Towards the end of June, the fuse was lit as Reboul joined the corps franc Pommiès with 200 men.
Towards noon, a white flag was put by Berthe on the "Rougeat" field – the signal that the Germans were arriving. The column included two tractions in front, six jeeps, a machine-gun, an ambulance and approximately 200 men. The fighting lasted three hours and resulted in about 20 casualties among the German troops. Near 3:00 pm, in danger of becoming surrounded, the maquis retired towards Montastruc Savès without sustaining any wounded.
The Maquis carried out operations until the liberation of Muret on 20 August 1944.
A stele
of gratitude to the people of Savères
and Lautignac
was constructed at the edge of the forest.
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
groups of French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
fighters during the Second World War.
In 1942, the Juge d'instruction of Muret
Muret
Muret is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is an outer suburb of the city of Toulouse, even though it does not belong to Greater Toulouse, which it has declined to join...
, André Reboul, along with other patriots, founded the group which in 1944 would become the Maquis de Rieumes.
In 1943, the group reinforced itself and was joined by, among others, Jules Delattre, a retired air force captain who would become the commander of the Maquis de Rieumes. It was also joined by some other Rieumois: Doctor Robert Roger (Médecin Capitaine de réserve), Doctor Charles Chwartz (Médecin Lieutenant de réserve), Jean Lécussan (a retired army Adjudant chef).
The year 1943 was devoted to recruitment, training and to the organization of teams in the villages of the cantons of Auterive
Auterive, Haute-Garonne
Auterive is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Carbonne
Carbonne
Carbonne is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:The A64 autoroute passes near the village, and there is a train station of the railway Toulouse - Bayonne....
, Muret
Muret
Muret is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is an outer suburb of the city of Toulouse, even though it does not belong to Greater Toulouse, which it has declined to join...
and Rieumes
Rieumes
Rieumes is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
In 1944, events gained momentum following parachute drops announced by radio Londres
Radio Londres
Radio Londres was a radio broadcast from 1940 to 1944 from the BBC in London to Nazi occupied France. It was entirely in French and was operated by Free French Forces who had escaped the German occupation...
, and an arms depot was set up in Rieumes.
On 1 June, battle stations were announced with the message "Messieurs, faites vos jeux".
On the 5th, two more messages, "Le père la Cerise est verni" and "Veronese était un peintre" communicated the Normandy landings.
In the night, the teams met up in the wooded part of Rieumes and divided themselves into three companies, one of which was based in the forest of Lautignac-Savères.
Towards the end of June, the fuse was lit as Reboul joined the corps franc Pommiès with 200 men.
Notable events involving the maquis
- 7 June 1944 : Sabotage of the railway at CapensCapensCapens is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
- 8 June 1944 : Sabotage of phone lines in the cantons of Rieumes and Carbonne.
- 10 June 1944 : Sabotage of railway points and high-voltage pylons at NoéNoé, Haute-GaronneNoé is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. - 11 June 1944 : Sabotage of points and pylons at Muret.
- 12 June 1944 : Destruction of underground gas pipelines at Carbonne.
- 14 June 1944 : Sabotage of pylons at Le FaugaLe FaugaLe Fauga is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. - 15 June 1944 : Sabotage of points at LongagesLongagesLongages is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-Sights:The Château Sainte-Marie is a castle dating from the second half of the 16th century, modified and altered during the 19th century. It is listed as a historic site by the French Ministry of...
. - 16 June 1944 : Coup de mainCoup de mainA coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense defines it as:The literal translation from French means a stroke or blow of the hand...
on a fuel depot at the Francazal aerodrome. - 29 June 1944 : Sabotage of points and pylons, and destruction of a water pumping station for steam trains at Muret.
- 2 July 1944 : Destruction of SNCFSNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
railway signals, tracks and telephone lines at Muret. - 14 July 1944 : Parade in the cities of Rieumes and Muret.
- 15 July 1944 : A German ambush results in the death of Lieutenant Roger, in charge of the demolitions section.
- On 17 July, at 6:00 in the morning, four JU 88 bombers attacked and dropped their bombs over the part of the forest towards Sajas. However, the maquis was located at the other end of the forest. Part of the forest caught fire.
Towards noon, a white flag was put by Berthe on the "Rougeat" field – the signal that the Germans were arriving. The column included two tractions in front, six jeeps, a machine-gun, an ambulance and approximately 200 men. The fighting lasted three hours and resulted in about 20 casualties among the German troops. Near 3:00 pm, in danger of becoming surrounded, the maquis retired towards Montastruc Savès without sustaining any wounded.
- 20 July 1944 : Installation of the Maquis in the Fabas forest
The Maquis carried out operations until the liberation of Muret on 20 August 1944.
A stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
of gratitude to the people of Savères
Savères
Savères is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
and Lautignac
Lautignac
Lautignac is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
was constructed at the edge of the forest.