Spanish Maquis by the Civil Guard, nearly wiping out the movement. The term ""maquis"" comes from the French term ""maquis"", which in turn comes from the Corsican term ""macchia"", the maquis shrubland, a type of biome found in the Mediterranean basin, mostly associated with Corsica. In France, the term was first used to refer to a group of guerrillas of the French resistance against the German occupation of France during World War II. The resistance fighters in these encampments were referred to as ""maquisards"". The anti-Franco guerrilla resistance in Spain began before the 1939 end of the Spanish Civil War. The outbreak
German military administration in occupied France during World War II where significant military operations were conducted included the maquis du Vercors, the maquis du Limousin, the maquis des Glières, the maquis du Mont Mouchet, and the maquis de Saint-Marcel. Major round-up operations included the battle of Marseille and the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. Although the majority of the French population did not take part in active resistance, many resisted passively through acts such as listening to the banned BBC's "Radio Londres", or giving collateral or material aid to Resistance members. Others assisted in the escape of downed US or British airmen who eventually found their way back to Britain, often through