France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance
Tour
DEPARTS: Convenient joining points in the UK, or begin/end your tour in Europe
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Price: per person, twin share
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Deposit: 30%
France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance
We look at the experience of France under Nazi occupation during the Second World War from the Battle of France in 1940 to the terrible events of the Holocaust in France, as well as the use of SOE and SAS, and the role of the French resistance. We see where France was humiliated at Compiegne, see the Holocaust Memorial at Drancy, and go into Limoges to look at SOE Heroine Violette Szabo before seeing Oradour sur Glane where a whole community was wiped out. We end the tour in Northern France seeing where members of the French Resistance were executed, now a moving memorial site.
Itinerary
Day 1 > Arrive France
Depart from your chosen UK pick-up point and travel to the port where a coach interchange will take place, you will then join your tour coach for the Channel crossing. On arrival on the Continent we continue to our hotel (passengers joining the tour in Europe will meet the group at the hotel this evening).
Day 2 > Battle of France: Retreat To Dunkirk
We start by looking at the German Blitzkrieg in 1940 and the Fall of France. We visit the graves of French soldiers who fell in defence of Paris and see where the Germans humiliated France by forcing them to surrender where the Armistice of 1918 was signed, seeing the museum here. In the Compiegne Forest we see where Paris’ Jews were deported by train to Concentration Camps. In the afternoon we travel to see the Museum of Resistance and Deportation covering the whole Picardy region in Tergnier. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Location of Armistice signing ★ Compiegne Forest ★ Museum of Resistance and Deportation
Day 3 > The Holocaust in Paris
Today we focus on the experience of the Jewish community in Paris during WW2 seeing the Holocaust Memorial site at Drancy which served as a Concentration Camp before those held here were sent off to camps in Germany and in the East. We view where the camp was, see the memorials and the Visitors Centre. In the afternoon we depart for Limoges for two nights. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Holocaust Memorial site at Drancy
Day 4 > SOE in Limoges; Oradour-sur-Glane
In the morning we follow the trail of SOE Agent Violette Szabo close to Limoges, seeing the village where she was sheltered, the area where she was dropped in and the ground where she was captured. In the afternoon we visit the village of Oradour-sur-Glane which was wiped out by SS troops in 1944. Now preserved as a memorial site, we enter through the visitors centre to learn of this tragic event from WW2 and spend the afternoon among the deserted streets left just as they were in 1944. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Oradour-sur-Glane ★ Violet Szabo
Day 5 > Resistance & Deportation Museum
In Limoges we visit the the Resistance and Deportation Museum and see where the Gestapo had its Headquarters, a place where SOE agent Violette Szabo was held. We then depart Limoges for Amiens, where we stay for two nights. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Resistance and Deportation Museum ★ Gestapo Headquarters
Day 6 > Amiens Prison & the French Resistance
Today we look at the French resistance in Northern France seeing where the attack on Amiens Prison took place by RAF Mosquitos. We also visit the graves of the RAF crews in the nearby cemetery. We then travel to Arras to see the ‘Mur des Fusilles’: the moat of an old fort where members of the resistance were executed during WW2, now a poignant memorial site. After lunch we visit the Resistance Museum at Bondues near Lille, before returning to Amiens. (B)
STAR INCLUSIONS ★ Amiens Prison ★ Arras: Mur des Fusilles ★ Resistance Museum
Day 7 > Depart
Today we will return to the UK or those people wishing to finish the tour in France, your tour will finish after breakfast. (B)
Dates
Departure Date | Days | Travel By | Tour ref | Price |
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Sat 8 May 2021 | 7 | Silver Service | 7FSAV/1 | $1973 |
Travel By
Executive coach
All of our coaches are modern and comfortable, and you can be assured of a high level of service and reliability from our expert-trained coach crews, who will be on hand to assist and escort you along the way.
Silver service coach
More than simply your method of transport, our Silver Service departures offer a coach with added comfort and facilities, plus extra benefits such as porterage in your hotels and extra included excursions on selected tours.
Luxuria coach
From the outside, Luxuria looks elegant and stylish. Step on board and the luxury continues. Passenger comfort was top of our list when we came up with the idea for Luxuria, and this is evident from the moment you sink into the soft, wide seats.
Inclusions
★ 6 nights’ hotel accommodation
★ Daily continental breakfast
★ Specialist Battlefield Historian
★ Battlefield touring as per the itinerary
★ Hundreds of convenient joining points in the UK, or begin/end your tour in Europe
★ Travel by Silver Service Coach
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Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.
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