Maquis (World War II) Maquis (World War II) The Maquis () were rural guerrilla bands of French Resistance fighters, called "maquisards", during the Nazi Occupation of France in World War II. Initially, they were composed of men and women who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's "Service du travail obligatoire" ("Compulsory Work Service" or "STO") to provide forced labor for Germany. To avert capture and deportation to Germany, they became increasingly organized into active resistance groups. Originally the word came from the kind of terrain in which the armed resistance groups hid, high ground in southeastern France covered with
Bombings of Switzerland in World War II defendants were found not guilty of criminal culpability. In addition to the US$4 million paid by October 1944, the United States government agreed to pay 62,176,433.06 Swiss francs (then equivalent to $, or $ at current prices) to the Swiss government as full and final payment for damage to persons and property during World War II on 21 October 1949. Bombings of Switzerland in World War II Bombings of Switzerland in World War II consisted of initially sporadic bombing events that became more frequent during the later stage of World War II. Switzerland was a neutral country during World War