Maquis (World War II) of those bands were called "maquisards". Their image was a committed and voluntary fighter, a "combattant", as opposed to the previous "réfractaire" ("unmanageable"). The term became an honorific meaning "armed resistance fighter". The maquis came to symbolize the French Resistance. Most maquisards operated in the remote or mountainous areas of Brittany and southern France, especially in the Alps and in Limousin. They relied on guerrilla tactics to harass the Milice and German occupation troops. The Maquis also aided the escape of downed Allied airmen, Jews and others pursued by the Vichy and German authorities. Maquisards usually relied on some degree
Maquis Vallier sector, but joined the Moors and the coast in August 1944 to support the Provence landings. Maquis Vallier The Maquis Vallier was one of the maquis groups of resistance fighters during World War II. The maquis operated in the north of the Var département, particularly in the Verdon valley. The maquis Vallier was initially part of the "Mouvements Unis de la Résistance" (MUR) organization, before becoming the primary structure of the "Armée secrète" (AS) in its zone. In 1944, it was under the authority of the "comité départemental de libération". The maquis Vallier was led by Louis Picoche. Like many