Resistance fighters in the Montagne Noire: the Free Corps, CFMN (1944)

Along the paths of the Montagne Noire (Tarn and Aude), steles and monuments recall that, not so long ago, battles were fought between small groups of men, lightly armed but determined and organised, and the Wehrmacht, far superior in numbers and better equipped.

Origins

The Montagne Noire Free Corps (CFMN) was born from the determination of several men who simply refused to accept defeat and occupation.

Two in particular: Roger Mompezat and Henri Sévenet. The Allied General Staff in London gave its final approval for the formation of a force based in the Montagne Noire, together with material support.

As early as 1943, the first weapons drops took place in preparation for arming the future unit.

On 20 April 1944, in Castres, the formation of the Montagne Noire Free Corps was decided.

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A composite force

The strength of the Montagne Noire Free Corps also lay in the fact that it reflected France in all its diversity. It included professional soldiers, but also civilians, men from the Tarn and Aude regions, « Ch’tis », Bretons and Normans, Alsatians and Lorrainers (who had deserted the Wehrmacht), Belgians, Russians, Spaniards (Republicans), Italians, Poles, a Dutchman, an American and an Englishman.

All religions were represented: atheists, Jews, Christians, Muslims. Some of the dead were honoured with readings from the Quran, while others were buried according to Christian rites…

A force that was, ultimately, already a reflection of today’s France?

A certain sense of justice and humanity

After the battle of La Rouge, the men of the CFMN took the risk of bringing one of their German prisoners, seriously wounded, to the hospital in Mazamet. At dawn, Captain Manquené, a doctor with the Free Corps, handed the wounded man, together with a letter, over to astonished German nurses… According to an address by J. de Kervenoael, the German soldier then said: « When peace returns, we will be happy to welcome you into our homes. »

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