Eisenhower’s guerrillas: the Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the liberation of France

417 Pages·2016·18.073 MB·English

by  Benjamin F. Jones

EISENHOWER’S GUERRILLAS

BENJAMIN F. JONES
E I S E N H OW E R ’ S
G U E R R I L L A S
The Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the
Liberation of France
1
1
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© Benjamin F. Jones 2016
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jones, Benjamin F., 1966–
Eisenhower’s guerrillas : the Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the liberation of
France / Benjamin F. Jones.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-994208-4—ISBN 978-0-19-994209-1—ISBN 978-0-19-935183-1
1. World War, 1939–1945—Secret service—France. 2. World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—France.
3. World War, 1939–1945—Underground movements—France. 4. Guerrillas—France—History—20th century.
5. Special forces (Military science)—France—History—20th century. 6. Special operations (Military science)—
France—History—20th century. I. Title. II. Title: Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the liberation of France.
D810.S7J46 2016
950.54'214—dc23 2015014744
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
Eisenhower’s Guerrillas is dedicated to the Jedburghs who
were killed in action. They are:
Lieutenant A. Bordes, French Army, Team Alec
Lieutenant A. Chaigneau, French Army, Team Aubrey
Major John Bonsall, US Army, Team Augustus
Captain J. Delwiche, French Army, Team Augustus
Technical Sergeant Roger Cote, US Army, Team Augustus
Captain J. F. D. Radice, British Army, Team Bunny
Captain Jean Roblot, French Army, Team Douglas II
First Lieutenant Lawrence Swank, US Army, Team Ephredine
Major Colin M. Ogden-Smith, British Army, Team Francis
First Sergeant Lewis Goddard, US Army, Team Ivor
Sergeant Lucien J. Bourgoin, US Army, Team Ian
Captain Victor Gough, British Army, Team Jacob
Lieutenant Maurice Boussarie, French Army, Team Jacob
Lieutenant Paul Angoulvent, French Army, Team Lee
Captain T. A. Mellows, British Army, Team Martin
Captain Gaston Vuchot, French Army, Team Veganin
Sergeant D. Gardner, British Army, Team Veganin
It is further dedicated to all those brave Free French and Maquis, many who
remain uncelebrated, who lost their lives in France’s liberation. And to the
memory of French Jedburgh Lieutenant Joe de Francesco and American
Jedburgh Captain Bernard M. W. Knox. These two lived long past the war and
they were instrumental in the making of not only this book, but of this historian.
2 Corinthians 3:17
propter Gloriam Dei

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments   ix
Glossary   xi
Prologue: Eisenhower’s Dilemma   1
1 Guerrilla Warfare and the Design of the Jedburghs   13
2 Enter the Americans   36
3 Recreating France and the Rise of the Résistance   54
4 North African Rehearsal   80
5 The Politics Running into D-Day   112
6 The Struggle for Control   131
7 The Free French Battle for Brittany and
Eisenhower Battles for the Free French   170
8 Setting the Trap   206
9 The Fog of War in Eastern France   238
Conclusion: Eisenhower’s Guerrillas in
History and Memory   270
Appendix 1: French Resistance Leaders   287
Appendix 2: Jedburgh Teams   291
Notes   309
Bibliography   347
Index   359

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In 1998, I began what I thought would be a simple historical project looking
into how commandos fared when they parachuted into France to blow up
bridges. What could be hard about that? But as Clausewitz tells us about
war, “the simplest thing is difficult.” Along the way I learned, and I hope the
reader will learn, about war’s complexity, diplomacy’s impact on the sol-
dier, and how much leadership matters.
Nothing like this gets done alone, and I had many supporters and a great
deal of assistance. They include Mrs. Trish Young, who convinced the
powers that be that I needed to do this and the Department of History at
the Air Force Academy for asking me to join them—twice. To be asked
even once is a rare privilege, and I feel blessed. Colonel Stephen Connelly,
USAF Retired, suggested that I write about Second World War special ops.
Thank you to the man who at one time commanded the finest outfit in the
Air Force, the 352d SOG, and the best leader I’ve ever met.
Assistance came from great scholars, with John Sweets and Peter
Maslowski leading the way. Their own scholarship served as my example,
and I hope this is worthy of what they taught me. In meaningful ways I am
also deeply grateful for the support and collaboration of Sir Robert Hickson,
John Farquhar, Ted Wilson, Mike Neiberg, Roger Spiller, Samuel Lewis, Ed
Kaplan, Colin Beavan, Troy Sacquety, Bob Wettemann, Mark Grotelueschen,
Jim Layerzapf, Robert Clark, Eric Frith, Steven Kippax, Peter Lieb, Tom
Laub, John Roche, James Quinn, Mac Knox, Charles Pinck, John Plating,
Doug Kennedy, Jeanne Heidler, Dennis Showalter, Colin Burbidge, Patrice
Berger, Mary and Van Kelly, Judy Paine, William Paine, Erin Greb, Susan
Langner, Jenna Sorsen, Tom Jones, Randall Woods, and Jerry Sweeney. I’ve