Resistance movement

A resistance movement is a group dedicated to fighting an invader in an occupied country. The term can also refer to any organized effort by supporters of a common goal against a constituted authority. Thus resistance movements can include any irregular armed force that rises up against an enforced or established authority, government, or administration. This frequently includes groups that consider themselves to be (or claim to be) resisting tyranny. Some resistance movements are underground organizations engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military occupation or totalitarian domination.

The term resistance has politically overtones, as producers of propaganda have used it (and historically, other terms like it) to drum up support in opposition to "foreign intervention". Organizations and individuals critical of foreign intervention and supporting forms of organized movement (particularly where citizens are affected) tend to favor the term. When such a resistance movment uses violence, those favorably disposed to it may also speak of freedom fighters. Both phrases -- resistance movement and freedom fighters -- can become ambiguous terms for for what other observers might describe as terrorists.

Tactics of resistance movements range from passive resistance, harassment and industrial sabotage to what in today's terms we might label guerilla warfare and terrorism. Any government facing the violent acts of a group that considers itself a resistance movement usually condemn such a group as terrorist, even when such attacks target the military.

In World War II, many countries had resistance movements dedicated to fighting the Axis invaders. Germany itself also had an anti-Nazi German resistance movement in this period. Although mainland Britain did not suffer invasion in World War II, the British made preparations for a British resistance movement in the event of a German invasion.

Resistance movements

The following groups may differ widely in numbers and in activity:

Post-World War II

• The guerrilla groups the National Libertion Front (FLN) and National Algerian Movement (MNA) who resisted French colonial rule during the Algerian War of Independence
• The ANC, PAC and other political and guerrilla movements that resisted the apartheid regime in South Africa
• The Mujahadeen in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan
• Hizbollah (or Hezbollah), a Lebanese militant group who resisted the Israeli military occupation of various parts of Lebanon through guerrilla warfare until Israeli forces left the Southern Lebanese "security zone" in 2000
• Chechen separatist guerrillas nominally under separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov (elected President of Chechnya in 1997) fighting against what they see as a Russian occupation of their country
• The Palestinian militant (or guerrilla) groups such as the PLO, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the first intifada (or uprising) and the second Al-Aqsa Intifada against Israeli military occupation
• The Iraqi resistance -- a partisan resistance against the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq, (2003- ).

World War II

• Albanian resistance movement
• Greek resistance movement -- opposed German and Italian occupying forces in World War II
• Polish resistance movements:
  • Armia Krajowa (the Home Army), Polish underground army in World War II (400 000 sworn members)
  • Gwardia Ludowa (the Peoples' Guard) and Armia Ludowa (the Peoples' Army)
  • Żydowska Organizacja Bojowa (ZOB, the Jewish Fighting Organisation), Jewish resistance movement that led the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943.
• The French resistance movement in World War II, including the Maquis.
• The White Rose, a German resistance movement in World War II
• The Red Orchestra, a German resistance movement, which included the only American executed by the Nazis for belonging to an anti-Nazi organization.
• Norwegian resistance movement in World War II
• Danish resistance movement in World War II
• Italian resistance movement in World War II
• The Yugoslav National Liberation Army (see also Yugoslavia during WWII)
• Czech Resistance movement
• Philippine resistance movement -- the ani Japanese phase of the Huk movement
• Soviet resistance movement of underground and partisan operatives, which had Moscow-organized and spontaneously formed cells opposing Fascism
• Ukrainian Insurgent Army - fought both Nazi, Soviet and Polish forces

Planned resistance movements:

• The Wehrwolf (also spelled Wehrwölfe or Werwolf) was a planned Nazi resistance movement against the victorious Allies after the defeat of the Nazi government at the end of World War II.
• The Auxiliary Units, organized by Colonel Colin Gubbins as a potential British resistance movement against a possible successful invasion of the British Isles by Nazi forces.

Pre-20th Century

• Carbonari - 19th century Italian movement resisting Austrian or Bourbon rule.

Notable individuals in the resistance movements

• Albert Camus
• Mildred Harnack
• Mordechaj Anielewicz
• Jean Moulin
• Christian Pineau
• Laura Secord
• Yasser Arafat
• Aslan Maskhadov
• Jean-Paul Sartre
• Nancy Wake

See also

• Quotes about resistance
• Special Operations Executive
• Polish Secret State
• Collaboration (quite the opposite of resistance)
• Covert cell