page_title: Francs-Tireurs et Partisans
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Francs-Tireurs et Partisans / History
caption_attribution_description: English: French resistants firing in a skirmish during the battle for Paris. Screenshot from La Liberation de Paris, September 1st, 1944. there is no known copyright for this 1944 underground propaganda work but the producer is the Le Comite de Liberation du Cinema Francais which disbanded shortly after. original movie file cand be found as public domain material at https://archive.org/details/LaLiberationdeParis1944
context_page_description: The Francs-Tireurs et Partisans Français, or commonly the Francs-Tireurs et Partisans, was an armed resistance organization created by leaders of the French Communist Party during World War II. The communist party was neutral at first, following the Soviet Union's official view that the war was a struggle between imperialists, but changed to a policy of armed resistance against the German occupation of France after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. Three groups were formed, consisting of party members, young communists and foreign workers. Early in 1942 they were merged to form the FTP, which undertook sabotage and assassinations of the occupation. The FTP became the best organized and most effective of the French Resistance groups. In March 1944, before the Allied forces returned to Normandy, the FTP was theoretically merged with the other Resistance groups. In practice, it retained its independence until the end of the war.
context_section_description: The military strength of the communists was still relatively feeble at the end of 1941, but the rapid growth of the FTP ensured that French communists regained their reputation as an effective anti-fascist force.Arthur Dallidet was placed in charge of security.
  Dallidet was recognized talking to a woman in a cafe beside the Reuilly metro station on the evening on 28 February 1942. He was arrested, taken to La Santé Prison, chained, handcuffed and severely beaten. He did not reveal any information, but had been carrying a long list of names and addresses. This led to other arrests including "Betty" (Madeleine Passot), his most important liaison officer. Further names and addresses were found in Betty's apartment.
  Gradually the FTP developed a more military organization, with sections, companies and battalions, each containing three lower-level groups. 
  There were often gaps in this paper organization.
  The FTP complained that the British and Gaullists were deliberately depriving them of arms, although more likely the problem was that they did not have the necessary contacts to arrange delivery.
  In November 1943 Joseph Epstein, the FTP Chief of Staff, was arrested and subjected to extreme torture, but revealed nothing. This was followed by a major police operation that largely destroyed the FTP's Paris organization.
  From the end of 1943 the national organization began to intensify preparation for a national uprising to support the expected Allied landings in Europe.
  By 1944, the FTP had an estimated strength of 100,000 men.
  In March 1944 General Charles de Gaulle placed all the French Forces of the Interior (Forces françaises de l'intérieur, FFI). under the authority of General Marie-Pierre Kœnig, but the FTP retained its de facto independence.
  During the Allied Normandy Campaign the FTP conducting delaying actions in the center and southwest of France against the German troops who had recalled to the battle zone.
  From June to August 1944 Ouzoulias coordinated the FTP's military action in the Paris region.
  Ouzoulias and Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, who led the Île-de-France Resistance movement, planned a major rising in Paris which played a vital role during the August 1944 Liberation of Paris.
  On 28 August 1944 de Gaulle put Ouzoulias in charge of the FTP and the FFI.
  In the autumn of 1944 Ouzoulias was charged by de Gaulle with integrating the FTP members with the regular French army.
  In October 1944 the communist militias were dissolved and the FTP was integrated into General de Lattre's army.
caption: French résistants firing in a skirmish during the battle for Paris
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