The operations of the Marksman Circuit in the weeks before and after D-Day
| Effectifs to date armed: | |
| Ain | 700 |
| Haute-Savoie | 400 |
| Jura (south of old demarcation line) | 200 |
These should on D-Day be able to neutralise enemy resistance within a fortnight. Numbers would increase greatly on D-Day.
Has several grounds for paratroops in Haute-Savoie which he can hold for forty-eight hours.
Later message states he has now armed a further 2,000 men who are not in the Maquis.
Official results of recent fighting at Nantua.
Losses by Milice: forty-six killed or missing, 130 wounded.
Ain Maquis knocked out eleven locomotives, blew (up) turntable and numerous points in Bellegarde area on 29 May 1944.
Since 8 June 1944 continuously he has completely cut rail traffic between Culoz, Ambérieu, Bourg and Lons-Le-Saunier, between Lyon and Bourg, also Culox and Bellegarde. All road traffic north of line Culoz–Hauteville–Poncin. Traffic Donpierre–Ghatillon–Oyonnax–West of Ambérieu–Bourg interrupted but not cut completely. As a result he has had to take over administration of civilian population, food supplies and finances under military law and in name of de Gaulle in area Oyonnax–Nantua–Hauteville–Bellegarde. Our losses to date: four killed; German losses – thiry-four killed, fifty-five prisoners. Germans continuously attacking.
He is being heavily attacked from East and West, and asks urgently for more arms ammunition, which he can take by night or day. He still holds Bellegarde which is his means of communication to pass arms to Haute-Savoie and Pays de Gex, but he must have more arms.
He is being heavily attacked by 1,000 Germans from East, 1,800 from West, 800 from South. He can only hold out if we send arms and ammunition immediately. Has among others 400 NCOs; 1.000 (?) 2,000 (?) men in all. Savage reprisals by enemy on civilians.
After four days fighting and only owing to lack of ammunition he withdrew in perfect order from Bellegarde, taking with him any civilians who wished to come. Before leaving he blew up railway bridge, engines and catch-points. Population behaved marvellously. He is being attacked on three fronts but still carrying out our orders to hold up enemy traffic on road Lyon–Besancon, and rail traffic Modane–Ambérieu–Lyon. German losses 400 killed, ours: sixty killed or wounded. Maquis boys were wonderfully disciplined and fought like tigers. Situation will be tragic in next forty-eight hours if no ammunition received.
He has put ground Austin in order to serve as an air landing ground.
He has thousands eager to fight, whom he is grouping and officering, while his Maquis shock troops hold off the enemy, but ammunition is running out. If enemy breaks through, thousands of defenceless men will be massacred. German reinforcements arriving by train from Savoie. Sabotage is now being done, but neighbouring departments are said by MARKSMAN to be reacting very slowly to orders given.
APOTHEME† reports that in the Ain, the Nantua region is 100 per cent liberated and Allied officers walk about in uniform. He states that Savoie can only give support in the Ain if they receive supplies and will limit themselves to a scrupulous observance of Plan Vert and modest guerrilla activities.
MARKSMAN acknowledges receipt of stores delivered to him (consisting of 432 containers) and says: ‘Operation successful. Many thanks. Everyone delighted.’
He asks for more explosives for rail sabotage in Saône et Loire area. Gives detailed report on activities in the Jura as follows:
a. Intermittent rail sabotage on lines: Lons–Bourge; Lons–Besançon; Lons–Chaussin; Lons–Champagnole.
b. Turntable at Lons and five engines have been blown up.
c. Forty-five Germans killed and three taken prisoner. MARKSMAN’s losses were twenty-five killed.
He reports that they are being attacked west and south but so far all is well.
MARKSMAN has discovered large scale plot to assassinate ROMANS, KIMONO and himself on 2 July 1944. The Maquis in the West have captured a lorry of German munitions. He asks us to send an Army surgeon. (KIMONO message 28 June 1944).
He would like a news reel or film of Allied landing, to be shown on 14 July 1944, as he considers it would have excellent effect on population. He says he has with him two Hindu soldiers who were taken prisoner at Tobruk. Could receive a second delivery of special stores (up to 1,000 containers) by day or night.
From a rather mutilated telegram it appears that he has notified the Germans that Hauteville will be regarded as an open town if reprisals against civilians stop. The Germans have respected this.
MARKSMAN’s men attacked the Germans, who withdrew to Thezillieu. They then raided the Thezillieu HQ and the Germans withdrew to Virieu.
An attack by Germans from Bourg was repulsed. Enemy losses: fifty killed and wounded; ours: six killed and nine wounded.
Reports extension of area which he now controls, as follows after Merignat, to Revonnas to Cormaranche to Treffort, to Arinthod, to Bouchoux. He states that regular sabotage on railway lines is continuing. He asks for more equipment.
† Jean Pierre Rosenthal. French co-organiser of the Marksman circuit.