Tragic Valor: France's D-Day Rear Guard Sacrifice

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During the early morning of the allies D-Day landing on Normandy's beaches, over 80 years ago, a forgotten battle unfolded fought by French paratroopers and resistance fighters, far from the spotlight. These brave men waged a desperate battle to keep the Nazis at bay. It was a fight that had tragedy and heroism. 

It was a moment of valor and sacrifice that history nearly erased. This was a D-Day battle, France almost forgot.

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That said, here's the rest of this of story

In a simple ceremony held during the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in the village of Plumelec, President Emmanuel Macron sought to shed light on a lesser-known chapter of France's D-Day history. As the first Allied planes and gliders descended upon Normandy, French commandos were among the initial forces to parachute into the region, tasked with disrupting German reinforcements. 

An historical note. It was here that Émile Bouétard, a member of this elite French unit, became one of the first Allied casualties of D-Day, killed by German army soldiers.

Macron addressed the crowd, and stated: "The bravery and unwavering determination of these united fighters played an instrumental role in the liberation of our nation. Their heroic actions have left an indelible mark on our collective history."

Marcel Bergamasco. Courtesy of: New York Times

"It's a positive step," remarked Marcel Bergamasco, the sole surviving Saint-Marcel fighter able to recount his experiences at the ripe age of 99. "It's finally a recognition that the events in Saint-Marcel held significance."

Among those in attendance were two former commandos from the French contingent of the British Special Air Service, both centenarians themselves. For their unit, which numbered over 400 paratroopers, dropped into Brittany over the course of weeks, this moment felt like a very long overdue reckoning.

So, what happened in the village of Saint-Marcel? This is where our story begins.

In the lead-up to the D-Day invasion of Normandy, codenamed Operation Overlord, the Allied forces sought ways to impede German reinforcements from reaching the landing beaches after the initial assault. Nearly 150,000 German troops were stationed in the Brittany region, in close proximity to the Norman coastline.

The existence of the Brittany region’s advantageous location drew Allied attention in 1943, as they planned for the invasion. 

Speaking of planning for this massive invasion, here’s another historical note to remember.
 
 D-Day required detailed planning. Lieutenant-General Frederick Morgan and his team of British, American and Canadian officers submitted plans for the invasion in July 1943. Although limited planning for an invasion of Europe began soon after the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, detailed preparations for Operation 'Overlord' did not begin until after the Tehran Conference in late 1943. 

As part of planning for an area for a suitable drop zone to parachute weapons, equipment, and even airborne soldiers, prior to the invasion was key. An isolated yet visible site was located by a railway line and the River Oust in rural Malestroit, that proved ideal. Designated "Wale" by the Allies, this terrain became an approved drop zone in May 1943, receiving numerous containers drops of arms and ammunition.

As operation “Wale” began to unfold, Major Morice, commander of the local resistance forces, established his headquarters at La Mouette adjacent to the drop zone to coordinate the airdrops of supplies and personnel. With the consent of the land owners, a local farm was transformed into a rallying point for many fighters in the Malestroit area, earning it the nickname "La petite France" or "Little France."

The Significance of Saint-Marcel

When the German forces occupied this historically rich region in 1940, numerous resistance networks emerged to oppose their presence. The Saint-Marcel maquis (rural guerrilla group) was established in February 1943 through the amalgamation of smaller resistance cells, bolstered by incoming weapons supplies. However, after encountering some difficulties in May of 1943, operations were temporarily suspended to avoid drawing unwanted attention from the German troops. 

Saint-Marcel is a small village about 30 kilometers from Vannes. Yet this unassuming locale rapidly became the largest maquis of the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) resistance fighters in Brittany, swelling to around 3,000 members. Its remote location away from major transit routes and surrounding dense vegetation allowed the Saint-Marcel maquis to increase in size.

Beginning in April 1944, there were other resistance fighters that endured intensifying German arrests, prompting some fighters to seek refuge with the Saint-Marcel group. In March of that year, multiple arrests significantly disrupted local resistance efforts. 

But by early June, over 3,000 men had rallied under the command of Major Morice in the Saint-Marcel area, solidifying its position as a formidable stronghold of the Breton resistance.

Resistance Efforts Unleashed on D-Day

As the Allied invasion of Normandy neared, the French National Council of Resistance (CNR) instructed the resistance fighters with carrying out disruptive operations to undermine German forces. This included destroying railway lines, cutting enemy communication lines, and engaging in guerrilla warfare.

On June 4th and 5th, 1944, the eve of the Normandy landings, the resistance fighters’ operations began. 

1.     A coded French message "The dice are on the carpet", broadcast by Radio London on June 4th, triggered the Green Plan to sabotage rail networks. 

2.     The Violet Plan, involving cutting German telephone lines, was also activated. 

3.     Finally, the message "It's hot in Suez" on June 5th initiated the Red Plan for guerrilla attacks. Local resistance groups immediately mobilized around the 3,000 volunteers.

In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, as American and British airborne troops parachuted into Normandy, 36 French commandos from the 4th Special Air Service Battalion were airdropped into Brittany. Divided into four nine-man teams, two landed near Plumelec (Operation Dingson) and two in the Duault forest of Côtes-d'Armor (Operation Samwest).

The Saint-Marcel maquis fighters and SAS units had clear objectives: 

1.     Execute the Green, Violet and Red plans, establish a base for guerrilla operations while obtaining supplies and training 

2.     and prepare to support any potential Allied landing on the Morbihan coast.

After D-Day, nightly airborne operations into Brittany started on June 9th, with teams of 12-20 SAS troops dropping each time. The Germans clearly noticed this activity, alerting the FFI that their base would inevitably be discovered. The FFI awaited orders to escalate guerrilla warfare and join Allied forces as guides through the Breton countryside.

Ultimately, no second landing occurred on the Morbihan coast. This decision was radioed to the resistance, prompting immediate orders to disperse units. Though major battles were to be avoided, Major Bourgoin was instructed to intensify guerrilla raids. He dispersed FFI and SAS teams throughout the region to heighten the feeling of insecurity among German troops in Brittany.

The Battle of June 18th, 1944

At dawn on June 18th, 1944, an advanced FFI (French Forces of the Interior) outpost opened fire on two German patrol vehicles likely conducting reconnaissance in the area which had seen numerous recent paradrop operations. One German solider managed to escape and raise the alarm.

Believing they faced only a small group of maquis fighters (when in reality 3,000 resistance troops defended the camp), 200 Germans advanced in a single-file column at 9 am. They quickly came under heavy machine gun fire from the maquis, suffering heavy casualties. A second German attack began at 10 am and again met stiff resistance inflicting numerous enemy losses. Major Bourgoin then urgently radioed the Allies for assistance.

Around 2 pm, the Germans launched another offensive. Four P-47 Thunderbolt fighters of the U.S. Air Force based in Normandy intervened at 3:30 pm, bombing the Germans and causing panic in their ranks. The bombing allowed the Resistance to reorganize positions. However, after the planes departed, the onslaught intensified with the battle reaching a fever pitch.

As night fell, the fighting gradually subsided. The Resistance knew the Germans would renew attacks the next day with greater reinforcements, including artillery and armor support. The decision was therefore made around 10 pm to disperse the base before it was completely surrounded. Some 3,000 fighters melted away into the night, returning to their original maquis groups. Before abandoning the site, French SAS paratroopers remained behind to cover the withdrawal, detonating three tons of explosives and ammunition.

The Battle of Saint-Marcel proved immensely costly. Approximately 30 FFI resistance fighters and 6 SAS paratroopers died in the fighting. German losses were even higher, with estimates ranging from 300 to 600 killed. It was clear the enemy had gravely underestimated the size and defensive capabilities of the French forces.

On June 19th, the Germans discovered the camp entirely abandoned. Out of spite and vengeance, they executed any wounded fighters they found hiding on neighboring farms. A relentless hunt for so-called "terrorists" ensued as they raided villages and forests, arresting or massacring those unable to flee, persecuting civilians, torturing and murdering at will.

This merciless campaign of terror against "terrorists" was unleashed without the slightest pity by the Nazi Gestapo. The Germans troops created fear among the population, burning farms and the village of Saint-Marcel itself to the ground. Only the church, rectory, and school buildings were spared destruction.

On July 12th, 1944, less than a month after the June 18th attack, German soldiers, who were tipped off by the Gestapo, discovered a resistance command post near Plumelec. At dawn, Captain Marienne along with 17 comrades (6 paratroopers, 8 resistance fighters, 3 farmers) were instantly executed. This marked the tragic end of the Saint-Marcel maquis.

Assessing the Impact of Saint-Marcel Operations

The toll on the SAS forces was severe - of the 450 deployed, 77 were killed and 197 wounded in the fighting, but the battle was significant.

The Battle of Saint-Marcel crucially exposed the existence of a highly organized, well-armed French resistance maintaining direct contact with Allied command. The heavy casualties inflicted delivered a serious blow to German forces. Conversely, this engagement taught the Allies that a permanent, static base proved untenable for coordinating clandestine armed resistance.

Notably, the fighting at Saint-Marcel resonated deeply across the Morbihan region. For the first time in occupied France following Corsica's liberation, German troops encountered decisive resistance from local forces. More importantly, it prevented the redeployment of these German units as reinforcements against the Allied push out of Normandy, fixing them to combating Breton resistance networks.

Marcel Bergamasco and his wife. Courtesy of: New York Times

The tenacious defense of Saint-Marcel on June 18, 1944 represented a morale-boosting success story early in the French liberation. While the battle eventually concluded with a tactical withdrawal, it demonstrated the fierce determination of the rural French Resistance guerilla fighters. Their stubborn resistance bled German forces, presaged greater turmoil to come, and foreshadowed the Allies' eventual victory. 

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway?

The Maquis de Saint-Marcel was a force of French resistance fighters, 3000 men with 200 Free French SAS (Special Air Service), during World War II operating in Brittany, Morbihan. It was created just before the Normandy landings with the objectives of preventing German army reinforcements from reaching the coast, thus facilitating the task of the allied landing forces.

President Macron’s visit served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by these unsung heroes, whose stories have long lingered in the shadows of France's wartime narrative. As the dwindling few who bore witness to those events approach their twilight years, the urgency to enshrine their legacy grows ever more obvious.

These men and others who died during the D-Day campaign 80 years ago, gave their tomorrows, so that you and I, can have our todays. 

Please remember them…please.

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

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