French Resistance: A New Uprising

Organised resistance against the Germans began almost as soon as the ink was dry on the armistice. With the help of the British Special Operations Executive, groups of courageous French civilians began to band together to throw off the shackles of oppression. As the war raged on, these groups of partisans became bolder, undertaking increasingly daring acts of sabotage and assassination, despite the threat of horrific reprisals.

These new miniatures, sculpted by the talented Tomas Axellson, recreate the brave men and women of the French resistance in the summer of 1944. Donning their tri-colour armbands (adopted in the hope of giving the partisans some protection under the Geneva and Hague conventions), and arming themselves with weapons supplied by the SOE and captured from the Germans, these partisans are ready to disrupt Axis reinforcements and buy some extra time for the British and American forces fighting their way inland!

Every miniature in this new range is absolutely bursting with character – from the band leader making a rude gesture at the Germans, to the stylish young woman brandishing a captured MP-40.

The leaders of the partisan bands tended to have prior military experience, which gave them an edge over the fresh-faced recruits that hadn’t even handled a rifle before. These grizzled veterans were often former military officers or had fought on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. One of our favourite miniatures in the range is the moustached commander in a battered leather jacket, with his beret at a rakish angle, firing his revolver from the hip!

On the battlefield, partisans prove to be tenacious and determined adversaries, making the most of their home-field advantage to outmanoeuvre the enemy or set ambushes. Partisan forces also get the ability to plant explosive devices on the battlefield before the action begins. If your opponent trips one of these homemade bombs, they hit like a heavy howitzer, able to make short work of even the toughest opponents.

You could add some variety to your force by using our fantastic British Airborne plastic kit to create an SOE Liaison Officer team, who can also act as forward air observers, vectoring in strikes from squadrons of Allied fighter-bombers.

We’ve made sure that your partisan band is properly equipped to take the fight to the Germans. The SOE dropped thousands of weapons across occupied France, including the venerable but dependable Vickers machine gun and 3-inch mortar. You’ll find these weapons are perfect for anchoring a defensive line, or shooting in an attack.

You’ll also need some anti-tank weapons to knock out German Panzers before they tear the heart out of your army. While some of your resistance fighters are carrying captured Panzerfausts, you might need something with a bit more punch. Enter the humble PIAT and Boys anti-tank rifle – these man-portable weapons are perfect for knocking out armoured cars and other light vehicles, but they might struggle against tougher targets.

To take out harder targets, you’ll need to capture a German 37mm anti-tank gun, or press an aging 75mm howitzer back into service. With these two weapons in your arsenal, you’re ready to take on the Axis in the fields and hedgerows of Northern France!

Darkness falls in the forest. On one path, some distance from the our camp, two boys stand guard over the safety of their comrades. One has a pistol, the other a service rifle, with a few spare cartridges in a box. Their watch lasts for two hours. How amazing those hours on duty in the forest at night are! Noises come from everywhere and the pale light of the moon gives everything a queer aspect. The boy looks at a small tree and think he sees it move. A lorry passes on a distant road; could it be the Germans? … Are they going to stop? A partisan recalls his first night in the forest.

To use your force in battle, you’ll also need a copy of the Armies of France and the Allies book! World War II was truly a world war, and many nations joined the fight against Germany and the Axis. This supplement for Bolt Action covers the armies of France, Poland, Greece, Norway, Holland and Belgium that stood against the German Blitzkrieg, as well as the resistance forces that sprung up in the aftermath of occupation.