Editing French Resistance (section)

===Vichy nationalists===

Before the war, there were several ultrarightist organisations in France. Another among the most influential factions of the right was [[Croix-de-Feu]] (Cross of Fire),{{Sfn|Weiss|2006|p=69}} which gradually moderated its positions during the early years of the war and grew increasingly popular among the aging veterans of the [[First World War]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|pp=72–74}}

Despite some differences in their positions on certain issues, these organizations were united in their opposition to [[parliamentarism]],{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|p=71}} a stance that had led them to participate in demonstrations, most notably the [[6 February 1934 crisis|"political disturbance" riots of 6 February 1934]].{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|p=72}} At about the same time, [[La Cagoule]], a fascist paramilitary organisation, launched various actions aimed at destabilising the [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]]. These efforts continued until La Cagoule could be infiltrated and dismantled in 1937.{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|pp=77–78}} Thousands not only welcomed the Vichy régime,{{Sfn|McMillan|1998|p=136}} but collaborated with it to one degree or another. But the powerful appeal of French nationalism drove others to engage in resistance against occupying German forces.

In 1942, after an ambiguous period of collaboration, the former leader of Croix de Feu, [[François de La Rocque]], founded the [[Klan Network]], which provided information to the British intelligence services.{{Sfn|Curtis|2002|pp=50–51}} [[Georges Loustaunau-Lacau]] and [[Marie-Madeleine Fourcade]]—who had both supported La Cagoule—founded the Alliance network, and Colonel {{ill|Georges Groussard (resistance)|fr|Georges Groussard (résistant)|lt=Georges Groussard}} of the Vichy secret services founded the Gilbert network. Some members of [[Action Française]] engaged in the Resistance with similar nationalistic motives. Some prominent examples are Daniel Cordier, who became Jean Moulin's secretary, and [[Colonel Rémy]], who founded the [[Confrérie Notre-Dame]]. These groups also included Pierre de Bénouville, who, together with [[Henri Frenay]], led the ''[[Combat (French Resistance)|Combat]]'' group, and [[Jacques Renouvin]], who founded the group of resisters known as ''Liberté''.

Sometimes contact with others in the Resistance led some operatives to adopt new political philosophies. Many gradually moved away from their antisemitic prejudices and their hatred of "démocrassouille", 'dirty democracy' (which many equated with ''[[ochlocracy|mob rule]]''), or simply away from their traditional grass-roots conservatism. Bénouville and [[Marie-Madeleine Fourcade]] became [[Member of Parliament|députés]] in the French parliament after the war; [[François Mitterrand]] moved towards the left, joined the Resistance and eventually became the first [[Socialist Party (France)|socialist]] president of the [[France|Fifth Republic]], Henri Frenay evolved towards European [[socialism]],{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|pp=513–514}} and Daniel Cordier, whose family had supported [[Charles Maurras]] for three generations, abandoned his views in favor of the ideology of the republican Jean Moulin.

The historian [[Jean-Pierre Azéma]] coined the term ''vichysto-résistant'' to describe those who at first supported the Vichy régime (mostly based on the patriotic image of Pétain rather than the [[Révolution nationale|Révolution Nationale]]) but later joined the Resistance.<ref name="vichysto-résistant">This expression has been used by many of Azéma's colleagues, notably Robert Belot in ''La Résistance sans De Gaulle'', Fayard, 2006, and Henry Rousso in ''L'Express'' n° 2871, 13 July 2006.</ref> The founder of [[Ceux de la Libération]] ("Those of the Liberation"), Maurice Ripoche, initially defended Vichy but soon placed the liberation of France above all other goals and in 1941 opened his movement to leftists. In contrast, many extreme right-wing members of the Resistance, such as [[Gabriel Jeantet]] and [[Jacques Le Roy Ladurie]], never renounced their tolerant attitudes towards Vichy.

====Affiche Rouge====
The ''[[Affiche Rouge]]'' (red placard) was a famous [[propaganda]] poster distributed by the Vichy French and German authorities in the spring of 1944 in [[Military history of France during World War II|occupied Paris]]. It was intended to discredit a group of 23 [[Franc-Tireur]]s known as the "[[Missak Manouchian|Manouchian group]]". After its members were arrested, tortured and publicly tried, they were executed by firing squad in Fort [[Mont-Valérien]] on 21 February 1944. The poster emphasised the composition of the group's membership, many of whom were Jews and communists, to discredit the Resistance as not "French" enough in its fundamental allegiance and motivations.{{Sfn|Jackson|2003|p=497}}