Maquis

by George Millar

In constant danger, and often with little equipment, saboteur-commander George Millar led his group of the Maquis on a series of cloak-and-dagger adventures which challenge the imagination. Trains were mysteriously wrecked, roundhouses destroyed, equipment sabotaged. Captain Millar's story is one of resource, endurance and hairbreadth escapes, of astonishing success and only occasional tragedy. Millar's fellow Resistance fighters include swashbuckling Boulaya; Pancheau, the soft-eyed, brilliant leader; the daredevil Le Frise; the American Paul, whom all the women adored; and many nameless men from all walks of life who lived and trained in the wooded hillsides of France. The tale of George Millar's wartime adventures which led him to join the Maquis, including escape from the Germans and a hair-raising trip across Europe, is told in HORNED PIGEON, also in Cassell Military Paperbacks.

Genres: History, France, World War II, Biography, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

George Reid Millar, DSO MC, was a Scottish journalist, author and soldier who was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his escape during the first part of the Second World War which he wrote about in Horned Pigeon.

Millar was awarded the DSO, the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes for his service in France in 1944 fighting behind the lines with the local Resistance. He recorded this experience in his most well known book Maquis.

Reviews

[Dave Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laconic tale of life as an SOE operative in France as D day started. Millar personal account of being selected trained and dropped into occupied France where he helped form and train local resistance fighters is fascinating as well as thrilling, he never plays The hero card instead simply sticking to the facts whilst being brutally honest about his feelings on the matter... Makes me want to read his book of his escape from an Italian pow camp earlier in the war...

[Jula-Louise Vladár]

The essential read for anyone interested in the activities of the SOE in France during WWII.

[Oscar Jakopo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional read!

[Joshua Green]

After 100-odd pages, I decided to put this book down.
One thing bothered me so consistently throughout, that I couldn't finish it: this nonfiction book is crammed full of reams of quoted "verbatim" dialogue.

I understand that dialogue is a literary device used in much nonfiction. I'm willing to give some leeway (or suspend my disbelief up to a certain point), but sometimes large portions of whole pages in this book consist of quoted dialogue exchanges. It was just too unbelievable and made the narrative less engaging. I understand the Millar really was a fighter in the French resistance and that he wrote this manuscript relatively shortly after his return from France, but the reliance on quoted dialogue that, presumably, the reader is meant to take as true was distracting. It is probably only my own neurosis, but I think I could only read this book if it had been billed as "a fictionalized account of true events" or "based on true events".

Then again, to contradict myself, I like plenty of other nonfiction which relies on a decent amount of dialogue... so...

[Ruprecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millar brings to life the experiences, hazards and dangers of an SOE operative dropped behind enemy lines in occupied France. He brings to life the different characters, their foibles and personalities of the French countryman (Maquis/FFI/French Resistance). It's a harsh read to learn how the Resistance dealt with collaborators, spies or enemy soldiers. Eventually Millar's account gets overwhelming, his war time experience is confined to the Franche-Comté region. Millar is like an overseer/strategist and is required to travel to train and equip the numerous resistance groups in the area. The many references to provincial towns/village and the geographical landmarks I found frustrating as I don't readily know this particular geographical location. Nor would I suspect would many of his Anglo readers. Maps would be appreciated.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful account of a Scottish (former) journalist’s service in 1944 France with the Maquis. Beautifully written, exciting, thoroughly credible—and all the more remarkable considering it’s VERY unlikely he was taking notes or writing a diary!

I just stumbled on this book and it was a great find, especially for $3 in pristine condition! 1947 British edition of a memoir originally published in 1945.

“Maquis” has been published with a variety of subtitles and under a different title in the US. You will find the same book on Goodreads as "Maquis: The French Resistance At War"; "Maquis: An Englishman in the French Resistance" (a 2013 British publication with an introduction by historian Max Hastings, who early in his career wrote "Das Reich," which involves Maquis conflict with the German SS panzer division of that name); and Waiting in the Night, a Story of the Maquis" (the title for the 1946 U.S. publication).

Thanks to interlibrary loan from the University of Kansas, I was able to compare my 1947 edition with the 2013 version with the introduction by Max Hastings. The introduction is primarily a mini-biography of Millar and shows Hastings's esteem for Millar. Hastings says "Maquis" is the best book about life in the French resistance.

"Maquis" probably will be difficult for potential readers to track down, but it's well worth the effort!

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, well-written, vividly evocative, not overly sensationalistic.
Quite an achievement and so soon after his experiences which is even more incredible.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of amazing bravery.

[Gervy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not the Resistance book for me. I persisted until p. 220 of 379 because Dad recommended it to me, but I didn't find it engaging at all.