14. The Importance of the Resistance in WWII
Resistance movements in WWII have rightly garnered significant attention and earned a place in the hearts of all freedom lovers. However, the resistance’s romantic image led to the proliferation of many untrue narratives about its significance. Especially Western European resistance movements, commonly assumed to have been widespread, to have tipped the balance in the Allies’ favor, and to have spelled the difference between victory and defeat. It is true that Eastern European resistance movements, such as the Soviet and Yugoslav partisans, contributed materially to victory with intense sabotage and guerrilla activities. However, the greatest contribution of Western Europe’s resistance lay in intelligence gathering: their sabotage and guerrilla efforts were negligible.
It took great courage, and the men and women of the Western European resistance risked their lives on a daily basis. However, their impact was more symbolic than substantive. They contributed more to the locals’ pride and self-esteem for having done something, than to the actual winning of the war. The disparity between the resistance movements in Eastern Europe and the Balkans versus those of Western Europe is due to the manner in which the Nazis treated their conquered subjects in different parts of Europe. Jews excepted, German occupation of Western Europe, while severe, never approached the levels of psychotic cruelty and mindless brutality meted out to the conquered in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.