Leadership and Courage Amidst Chaos
Pierre Rangheard, born 20 November 1910 in Maizières-lès-Brienne and who passed away on 27 November 1995 in Lyon, was a French Army officer who stood out both in Lyon, where he participated in the CDM (Camouflage du matériel) network after the creation of the Armistice Army, and in the Vercors Maquis. Joining the Maquis on 6 June 1944, he took command of the company responsible for equipment and munitions. He organized ammunition depots and took an active part in the fight against German forces.
As a captain in the FFI (French Forces of the Interior), he notably helped orchestrate the liberation of 53 Senegalese riflemen held in the barracks of La Doua in Villeurbanne, and participated in the Liberation of Lyon. His efforts exemplify the diverse backgrounds and vital contributions of Resistance members.
Personal Journeys: From Tragedy to Resistance
Claude Falck, born 16 January 1918 in Brazil to French parents, returned to France with his mother and built a distinguished academic record in Paris, entering the prestigious École Polytechnique in 1938. The looming threat of war was ever-present—by the time Germany invaded Poland, Falck and his fellow students were summoned for military training. Opting for the School of Engineering, he quickly found himself amidst the collapse of France’s armies in 1940. Falck received the Croix de guerre for his role in the destruction of the Gennes bridge on 19 June 1940, even as enemy gunfire raged.
The following years were marked by difficulty: studies continued under the shadow of war, and Falck, uncomfortable with the oppressive atmosphere, left further studies to become an engineer near Toulon. There, his interest in Resistance activities bloomed, leading him ultimately to Grenoble, where he joined fellow patriots. Beginning in spring 1943, he worked with Yves Farge and Alain Le Ray to support and equip young maquisards in the Vercors and to train them in the use of explosives and military tactics.
Operating under the pseudonym ‘Blanchard,’ Falck became instrumental in preparing the Vercors for Allied landings. After joining formally in June 1944, he led engineering sections and fought in fierce engagements against German troops. Surrounded and outnumbered after a brutal enemy airborne attack from 21 July, Falck and his men attempted to escape in small groups. He was captured and killed on 24 July 1944 at Miribel-Lanchâtre, his body thrown into a ravine—a fate unknown to his family for a long time. Falck was posthumously awarded the Croix de Combattant Volontaire de la Résistance in March 2020 for his unwavering commitment.
Stories of Sacrifice, Survival, and Legacy
The Resistance was not just fought in the cities, but also through the networks and camps spread across the Alpine heights. Among those who left their mark:
- Jean Veyrat, a railway worker in Grenoble, who, with his wife and two young children, lived under constant threat. Arrested and imprisoned by Italian forces, he later escaped and created a Resistance group in Romans. Involved in arms smuggling and supporting maquis in the mountains, Veyrat was killed in an ambush clustered near the house of Pierre Dalloz.
- Benjamin Malossane, dubbed ‘Père Malo’ by his students, was a passionate and politically active headteacher dismissed for inscribing ‘Long live England, which continues the fight’ on his classroom blackboard. He went on to organize food logistics, false papers, and the creation of new Resistance camps, always just a step ahead of Gestapo pursuit, and supported the famous Maquis of Vercors to the end of his life.
- Lino Refuggi, of Italian origins, orphaned young and placed with a family in France, joined the Vercors Maquis in April 1943. He distinguished himself carrying supplies and in machine-gun combat. After the war, he became a swimming instructor and club coach, passing his love of both natation and France to his children before his ashes were spread at his beloved Camp C3 site.
A Patchwork of Risk and Hope: The Wider Tapestry
The Resistance in the Vercors was a mosaic of backgrounds and fates—people like Pierre Rangheard, who risked all to hide men and supplies; local teachers, engineers, and refugees who became camp organizers and supply runners; and courageous souls like Claude Falck and Jean Veyrat, who led and maintained the spirit of resistance even as violence escalated.
The memory of their deeds lives on, not only in the memorials and plaques across France—from the cemeteries of Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte to the city streets named after these heroes—but in the stories of families, local communities, and grateful nations. Their courage reminds us that heroism often hides in barns, classrooms, and unexpected places. As Resistance member Eugène Chavant once declared years later about his experience in World War I:
“All of the Resistance isn’t worth eight days at Verdun.”
Yet for many, the struggles and sacrifices of these fighters laid the cornerstone for a liberated France and a legacy that continues to inspire.
