During the Second World War, faced with the German occupation and the policies of the Vichy regime, many resistance groups were formed in rural and mountainous areas. These groups, known as maquis, found in the Alpine terrain of the Grésivaudan valley and the Belledonne range a landscape well suited to clandestine activity.

The Birth of the Maquis (1942)

The Grésivaudan Maquis began to organize toward the end of 1942 under the leadership of Jack Quillet, assisted by Alphonse Manhaudier. This organization emerged in a context marked by the introduction of the Compulsory Work Service (STO), which pushed many young men to enter hiding in order to avoid deportation to Germany.

The first groups settled in isolated areas of the Grésivaudan valley and on the slopes of the Belledonne range, taking advantage of the terrain, forests, and the solidarity of part of the local population.

Organization and Expansion (1943)

At the beginning of 1943, Alphonse Manhaudier, known by the aliases “Martigues” and later “Évreux”, was tasked with expanding and organizing the maquis around Grenoble. He established a network covering the Bas-Grésivaudan, the heights of the Belledonne range, and several areas near the Oisans region.

From summer 1943 onward, the logistics and supply system of the maquis were strengthened. Food, fuel, clothing and weapons were obtained through civilian support networks and specialized intelligence groups.

The Bernard Company

Among the units emerging from the Grésivaudan Maquis, the Bernard Company, commanded by Georges Manusset, known as “Bernard”, was created in 1943. It carried out operations in the Grésivaudan sector, particularly in the highlands between Pontcharra and Grenoble.

After a denunciation, the company was forced to withdraw into the higher mountains of the Belledonne range, then toward the Sept-Laux. It later took an active part in the fighting of the Liberation, particularly in the summer of 1944.

Summer 1944: Fighting and Liberation

As Liberation approached, the groups of the Grésivaudan Maquis intensified their actions. Sabotage operations, harassment of German troops, and support for the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) increased throughout the valley and surrounding mountains.

During the night of 20–21 August 1944, several commando groups from the Grésivaudan–Belledonne sector carried out coordinated operations, marking the direct engagement of the maquis fighters in the battles for local liberation.

Memory and Legacy

After the war, the memory of the Grésivaudan Maquis has been preserved by veterans, families and local communities. Memorial monuments have been erected in tribute to the resistance fighters who died in combat.

Today, the Maison des Maquis du Grésivaudan preserves and transmits this history, recalling the commitment of men and women who chose clandestine resistance, often at the risk of their lives, in defense of freedom and human dignity.

Reference source: Wikipedia – Grésivaudan Maquis