French Resistance

[batty]

I was intrested in starting a French Resistance kit for airsoft. I was wondering if anyone knows any good places to buy clothing from that time period and what kind of weapons they used( i would guess captured german weapons).

Thanks for any help.

[click]

I have also been thinking of doing a Polish Home Army impression, not French but close enough. Here is what I have been thinking for my kit.

I would suggest going to your local Good Will store and buying a wool suit and a linnin dress sirt. You don't have to wear the suit jacket for events but you should bring it for wear around camp. You could get a fedorra or a "Newsies" hat. No not all French were born with a beret. I recomend you get some suspenders too. Civil War repros would be a good choice. You could wear German or American low boots. Of course you should the correct armband to go with whichever force you are trying to portray.

As for a weapon:
I would ssuggest a "captured" German weapon. I personaly was thinking of putting clone VSR-10 guts into a German Kar98. You could also get an AGM mp40. please Please PLEASE! do NOT get a Thompson for a resistance impression. Even though it would have been remotely possible for a ressistance fighter to have one, Thompsons are so dang common on the airsoft battlefield, that it would look wierd to run around with one.

Click

[click]

Here are some pics:

These, I believe, are French :





Note that the three guys with rifles all apear to have Kar98's.



Here are some pics of the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising:
(Note the large amount of German uniform parts)



After 4hrs travel in the sewers


PIAT antitank team (I don't know what the R on the helmet means)


MG team (Yes they are Polish)




I am thinking of just using an M43 cap like these guys rather than have a helmet


Note the SS smocks with armbands. (The sten in the first guys hands was made by shops in underground bunkers during the Uprising).


Click

P.S. That is all I have for now. If anyone has more detailed pics of what was worn by resistance fighters all over Europe, I would be greatly apreciated.

[spitfire740]

Here's a picture of some Italian resistance fighters (Friuli division) during the allied invasion. It is the top right photo, and you can see that they have the armbands, and are wearing normal clothing.



Picture taken from "Italy at war: 1943-45"

[binarypunisher]

Yeah, I would go to my local thrift store and pick up anything that looks 'period'. Look at pictures of European civilians in the war to get an idea about what they wore. But I think a good general idea would be a collared shirt, with a sweater - and maybe corduroy pants?

I think they used a real mix of weapons...didnt the Americans and British airdrop weapons to them?

[2nd Bat]

The US built and dropped about 1 million Liberator pistols in various parts of occupied Europe. They cost about 2.00 to make and very few survive today. They were .45 Cal and were a one shot weapon intended for ambush to allow the resistance fighter to take the weapon from his victim. They are worth a great deal of money today. I was able to handle one and simulate loading it. You push the shell out with a wooden dowel after firing and then pull an extra round out of the pistol grip area, stick it in the breach, twist and pull a simple cock mechanism back to reload. I can't imagine what firing it would be like. Nasty I would guess.

A Kar or MP-40 would probably be best. A tattered sleavless sweater over a worn dress shirt and baggy slacks with a heavy long wool coat and either a beret or a fedora. Add a plain back pack and a bicycle and you are there!

[batty]

Thanks guys this all really helps alot. Im going to head down the the local Thrift store tomorrow!

One more question:

Ive been doing some research and I havent found what some of the diffrent French Resistance forces armbands look like. If anyone has any pictures that would be really good. The ones in the picture look plain white.

[CharleyNovember]

Check out some info here:
www.scrapbookpages.com/Natzweiler/History/FrenchResistance.html
also this:
f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/sgtharry.htm

Harry was not simply hiding while in France- during the last month Harry took part in Resistance 'activities' and wore this hand made identity arm band.



This is the centre section, the letters are F.F.I (top) and MEU (bottom).

It measures 5" x 15"

My thanks to Michael Elcock, Victoria, BC, who sent me with the following information :-

FFI stands for Forces Francais de l 'Interieur.

The FFI was created by General de Gaulle, and was essentially the official new army of the new France that was about to come into being. At the time Harry Holt was in it, it was still pretty irregular but I believe de Gaulle's intention was to give the various resistance groups official status so they'd at least have a legal position that might help them avoid being shot as traitors or terrorists. It was also a political move as de Gaulle -- who had not been in France for many years was trying to pre-empt the various resistance factions, and particularly the French communists, who wanted to form a government as soon as the Germans were driven out.

I can't find any reference to MEU but I'd suggest it's likely to be some kind of local regimental or unit designation. And probably quite temporary.

[spitfire740]

A good movie to see about the French resistence is an old movie, a classic, called "Casablanca." There are some good scenes of French resistance fighters featured in that film.

[2ndranger]

Basically french resistance, you can wear normal everyday 40's clothing, and carry a gun. Depending on what resistance you portray or what occupation...you could really wear anything...button up shirts, suspenders, newsboy hats, coats, riding boots (if your a farmer), or dress shoes if your a normal civie are things that you want to go for. Then for secrecy you can use a bandana. Stay away from gym shoes!!! Hope this helps.

Schutze

[batty]

I went to check out the Thrift Store today but it was closed
Ill check it out some other time.


Thanks for the help everyone