Main planner : Jean Bordes,
Etienne Doléac Setting : Jean Bordes,
Antoine Fontanet Wiht contribution of A.N.A.C.R. President :
Gilbert Arguinart
Copyright to A.N.A.C.R.
The Story
This Maquis was created in July 1943 at Nistos (Hautes-Pyrénées).
Mr. Lucien Rumeau and his wife both teachers in the Haut-Nistos and Mr. Joseph Plantat a baker at Saint-Laurent de Neste formed the Maquis. It’s in a barn at the Lita close to the Estivère pass that the first members will be housed (students , workers and farmers) the majority of whom resist government orders to Compulsory Service (forced labor) in Germany…at first there are only 8 of them
The group will at first be called Marat . I twill be lead by Paul Chastelain (who years later will be the Mayor of Tarbes) . On March 3rd, 1944 the Maquis of Nistos will be amalgamated with the Maquis d’Esparros (who was created in May 1943). The unit is now composed of 35 men. These two Maquis will form the 3201ème Compagnie des Francs Tireurs et Partisans Français (F.T.P.F)
Their operational base is located above the Gourgues de l’Arros at the end of the Baronnies. In May 1944, sixty guerilleros lead by José Cortes arrive and reinforce the F.T.P.F. whose manpower is now 140 men). The operations of this Maquis from Summer 1943 to August 1944 were only made possible by the courageous support of the population. Many inhabitants of the region will be killed. The Maquis of Nistos had become a true legend. People exaggerated its numbers, the Germans where kept on the run and harassed in several areas and they could not believe that this was the work of only a handful of resolute, tireless and heroic young men.
Shepherd cabin of the “Lita
of Mr RUMEAU (Louisou).
Maquis of Nistos September 1943 to March 1944
Paulous barn Maquis of Esparros.
November 1943 to march 1944
Mrs and Mr Lucien RUMEAU
Teachers in the Haut-Nistos
From the beginning they gave support to the patriots of Nistos and were the intermediaries between the first Résistance Fighters of this Maquis of the Hautes-Pyrénées and the villagers of Nistos. Their support to the Résistance was considerable.
In September 1944, Mrs. Rumeau with the help of
her husband wrote a book on the life and exploits of these first Résistance Fighters.
Mr. Joseph Plantat
of Saint Laurent de Neste
He created the Maquis of Nistos and he paid for it with his life. The whole regions remembers this man who devoted himself body and soul for the Résistance. In those difficult days he supplied with food the population of the region.
Paul CHASTELAIN
de Tarbes
“POPAUL”
First leader of the Maquis de Nistos then called Marat in August 1943. This unit amalgamated with elements of Esparros in March 1944 and became the
3201ème Cie F.T.P.F.
Upheld by an unshakeable faith and a gung-ho spirit kept alive by its leader, these young patriots accepted many trials with courage. Badly equipped, they walked 30 to 50 kilometers in snow or in falling rain by night to accomplish their mission or to get supplies.
Historians have listed up to 25 sabotage missions executed against factories of the Plateau of Lannemezan, Aure valley, hydro-electric power lines , the Toulouse-Bayonne railroad and direct attacks on the enemy done by the 3201. The operational area of the 3201 stretched from the Baronnies to the Plateau of Lannemezan , the Aure and Nistos valleys right up to Montréjeau.
The most important operations of the 3201st Company are the following:
On April 7, 1944 at 10 :00 H a German vehicle is attacked on the Capvern Ramp (N 117) with a commando of 8 men. Two Germans are killed. This is the first time this happens, 2 months before the Allied invasion of Normandy. From then on the Germans will only move about in armed convoys.
On April 28, 1944 at 23:00H between Cantaous Tuzaguet and Saint Laurent de Neste (65) a group of 12 FTPF fighters destroys 2 trains loaded with merchandise.
On May 29, 1944 at 01:00H the generators of the electro-chemical factory of Lannemezan are destroyed by a group of 25 FTPF fighters in spite of the heavily guarded Germans guarding the area. The aluminum production that is vital for the Germans is stopped once and for all.
On June 14, 1944 at 10:00 H attack of heavily armed German convoy on the Capvern Ramp. 40 Résistance fighters and 45 Spanish guerilleros are involved in this battle – 5 enemy vehicles are destroyed, 33 Germans are killed and 28 wounded. The fighters of the FTPF withdraw with their wounded. The last sabotage operation will be executed by 6 fighters of the FTPF on the night of August 16th. With plastic explosives they successfully sabotaged the railroad bridge of Montréjeau without destroying it completely.
On August 16, 1944 the battle of the liberation begins with the help of other Résistance units. The Germans based at Arreau attempt to flee Northwards. They are blocked by the 3201 at the crossroads of Labarthe-de-Neste. After suffering casualties the Germans head back up to Arreau and position themselves at the Peyresourde Pass. Severely mauled by the 3201st Company, they head for Luchon and regroup with elements of the garrison. It is therefore an important detachment that heads down to Montréjeau. At Chaum, it is effectively blocked it then heads for Saint-Béat and reaches Spain by the Pont du Roi (King’s Bridge). Our area is now free of Germans. Most of the young men of the 3201 FTPF will join the Régiment de Bigorre and head for the Atlantic Front.
Albert Capricot of Lannemezan
“MAURICE”
Commander of the 3201ème Cie F.T.P.F
from March 4 to June 30 1944
Henri MAGNE
from Crecy la Chapelle
“TONIN”
Commander of the Maquis of Nistos after the departure of Chastelain in January 1944.
He commanded the 3201ème Cie F.T.P.F. from June 30, 1944 onwards
Jean BORDES
of Montréjeau
“HENRI”
In charge of liaison with other Résistance units and intelligence gathering missions for the Maquis of Nistos as from october 1943
Jean DUFFO
of Saint-Laurent-de-Neste
“JEANNOT”
Liaison with the Légaux (Résistance cells in cities) of Lannezan and the Maquis of Nistos.
Mme Emilienne RIVIERE
of Tarbes
“MONIQUE”
Liaison agent between the 3201ème Cie ,
Lannemezan and Tarbes
José CORTES
“JOSÉ”
Commander of the Guerilleros detachment
Some of the youth who first joined the areas where the Maquis de Nistos et d'Esparros was formed in July, August and September 1943 and Mrs Dossat who sheltered the sick.
Jean LALOUBEE of the Union (31)
"JEAN" Maquis of Nistos
Fernand PEREBOSCH of Odos (65)
"FERNAND" Maquis of Nistos
Jean ANOUILH of Toulouse
"PERSILLON" Maquis of Esparros 27/09/43
Louis CABAU of Toulouse
"RENE" Maquis of Nistos September 1943
Roger PONS of Toulouse
"ROGER"
Maquis of Esparros 27/09/43
François ADER de Aignan (32)
"FRANCOIS" Maquis of Nay and of Nistos Août - september 1943
Julien Martinez of Tarbes (65)
"JULIEN"
Maquis of Nistos
Robert BUGE de Beaumont of Lomagne (82)
"PISTOULE"
Maquis of Nistos
Francisco SAFORCADA of Montech (82)
"JIM"
Maquis of Nistos
Jean LAGREZE of Pau (64)
"LATOUR" Maquis d'Esparros - July 43
André RIFFAUT of Carcassonne
"GABIN"
Maquis d'Esparros - July 1943
Madam DOSSAT from Esparros
A refugee from Tarbes with her 2 daughters (10 and 11), she sheltered in her house all the sick of the Maquis. She was their nurse during the Spring of 1944. She is the grandmother of Doctor FLEURY the cardiologist.
Claude Kiefer
"Excuse"
Born to Paris, dead the 27/12/1992
Evacuation of wounded and medical care to the ill
Between June 15, 1943 and August 16,1944 a difficult problem to solve was that of evacuation of the wounded and care for the ill. These were cared for in homes since hospitals were under German control.
People who had wounded or ill resistance fighters took enormous risks. The presence in their homes of an unknown person could arouse the suspicion neighbours and have them arrested.
List of persons who housed and cared for resistance fighters :
With their addresses during that period (1943-1944)
- Doctor Baragin Mayor of Lannemezan (65300)
- Doctor Noo of La Barthe de Neste (65250)
- Mrs Doleac Rosette of Rebouc (65250)
- Mr Jean Rey and his mother of Rebouc (65250)
- Mrs Dossat of Esparros (65130)
- Mrs and Mr Lucien Rumeau of Nistos (65150)
- Mr Dastugue Barthélemy Aller of Bocages Lannemezan
- Mrs Pointis teacher at the Bas-Nistos school (65150)
- Mrs and Mr Joseph Plantat of St Laurent de Neste (65150)
- Mrs and Mr DORDAN Bertrand of IZAUX (65250)
Here’s an example, among the many, of the evacuation of a wounded after an attack on German troops:
At 10 AM on June 14, 1943, a detachment of 95 men of the 3201éme Cie des Francs-tireurs et Partisans Français, based in the Baronnies (Hautes-pyrénées), attacked a German convoy in the Rampe de Capvern (65130) North of this village.
After inflicting severe losses on the enemy, the resistance fighters withdrew to the village of Tilhouse with their wounded; one of which was Irénée Aubert. The unit commander decided to transfer him to the Saint-Gaudens hospital 30 kms away.
Henri (nom de guerre of Jean Bordes) is tasked with finding a vehicle to transport the wounded.Henri crisscrossed the area going from Lannemezan and at last arrives at Montréjeau. Everyone refused to help and take the risk of transporting a wounded in this insecure area. The Germans had established many roadblocks on all the roads.
Henri Bordes the brother of Jean Bordes convinces Mr. Perrot, a garage owner in Montréjeau, to carry the wounded in his vehicle with Henri who recounts: « Via Saint-Laurent de Neste, and La Barthe de Neste, we arrived at Tilhouse in the gas powered Ford of Mr Perrot.
Aubert is still alive. We stretched him out on the backseat. Our mission is to reach Saint-Gaudens by travelling along country roads. We pass through Escala, Cantaous and la Poutche de Villeneuve, Franquevielle and Spehis. After the Serre de Bordes de Rivière Irénée Aubert, with his head on my knees breathes his last.
He was barely twenty years of age, a high school student of the lycée of Gourdan –Polignan. He had graduated from the Institut électrotechnique of Toulouse.
We still carry on and arrive at the front gate of the hospital of Saint-Gaudens where Dr Berges is waiting us with Mr. Dufour and Mr. Croizet who have now found a vehicle. They’ve come from Montréjeau to prepare for our arrival.
The Doctor has Irénée Aubert buried, with the help of some hospital staff, in the municipal cemetery.
At 15h30 Perrot and I head for Montréjeau we make the error of taking the N 117. Between Villeneuve and Bordes de Rivière we see on this empty and straight road the German convoy that has reformed itself. We just can’t turn back, I ask M. Perrot to keep on going. We pass the entire German convoy of damaged vehicle (the handiwork of our morning ambush). At each crossroad the Germans train their weapons on us. Mr Perrot with sweating hands on the steering wheel plays it cool and we at last arrive in Montréjeau »
On the next day (June 15) at 10AM Dr Berges is summoned at the office of the Director of the hospital. The Germans have surrounded all the hospital buildings, the Dr is asked by the Hospital’s Director to accompany a German Captain in his search of all the rooms. The officer can’t find the wounded and therefore leaves with his troops. M. Perrot will then go back to his work at the garage.
A few days later Henri Bordes, the brother of Jean Bordes will be arrested by the Gestapo. Mr. Perrot a humble and quiet man throughout his life never mentioned these events that could have cost him his life.
Veterans of the Maquis of Nistos and Esparros All do not appear on this list that was established on June 15 1989.
War name
Identity and Origin
POPAUL
JEAN
FRANCOIS
FERNAND
RENE
MICHEL
JULIEN
SERGE
DENIS
PHILIBERT
ROGER le meunier
ANNIE
CLARO
TONIN
JIM
Père CHARLES
PAPANINE
JEANNOT
ALCIDE
HENRI
JOSEPH
LA PISTOULE
CHEVAL
MAURICE
FATALA
JOSE
VICTOR
FRANCOIS le radio
ETIENNE
PISTACHE
BOULLEZ
PERSILLON
ROGER
MONIQUE
PIEDS PLATS
Le Boulanger de Sarancolin
Le Maître de la Loucarde
EXCUSE
CLAUDE
RAOUL
MARIUS
AUGUSTE
JO
CELESTIN
EMILE
PITCHE
MARCEL
RENE
OLIVE
JEANNOT
GEORGES
YOYE
MICHEL
NENESSE
JULES
LEON
CARTACALA
DESIRE
BEBERT
PIERROT
ANDRE
SUZANNE
PISTOULE
LATOUR
GABIN
BERTRAND
AZEMA
MICHEL SIMON
ATHANASE
Mlle POINTIS
BEBERT
YVES
CHASTELAIN - Tarbes - Died
LABOUBEE - Toulouse - Died
ADERFrançois - Died
PEREBOSCHFernand
CABAU Louis - Toulouse
FOURNES Michel - Montesquieu Volvèstre (31)
MARTINEZ Julien - Tarbes - Died
DOLEAC Etienne - Rebouc (65)
DUTHU Jean-Marie (Hongreur) - Esparros (65)
BOUCHARD Jean-Marie
BRACHET Emile - Died
COTON Pierre
DANIEL Roger - Nistos (65)
BORDEDEBAT Annie – Tarbes
TALAVERA - Nistos (65) - Died
MAGNE Henri - Crecy la Chapelle (77) - Died
SAFORCADA Francisco - Montech (82) - Died
VERBIZIE Charles - Nistos (65) - Died
PISSAGUINE Alexandre - Salies du Salat - Died
DUFFO Jean - Saint Laurent de Neste (65)
CAMPAN Alcide - Nistos (65) - Died
BORDES Jean - Montréjeau (31)
GABAS Joseph - Luchon (31) - Died
BUGE Robert - Beaumont de Lomagne (82)
LAUGA Marcel - Ossun (65) - Died
CAPPICOT Albert - Lannemezan - Died
CEBOLLADE Jean - Tarbes (65)
CORTES José - Bizanos (64) - Died
AUBERT Irénée - Toulouse - Died
COUBRI François - Perpignan
TORRES Louis - Aureillan (65)
FORT François - Mazères de Neste - Died
HAINAUD André - Verfeil (31)
ANOUILH Jean - Toulouse (31)
PONS Roger - Toulouse (31)
TORRES Emilienne - Aureillan (65)
CLAVERIE - Tarbes (65)
AYERBE Victor - Sarrancolin (65) - Died
SEUBE Alfred - Nistos (65) - Died
KIEFER Claude - Born in Paris - Died 27/12/1992
ABADIE Claude - Tarbes
COUGET - La Barthe de Neste (65)
NASARRE Louis - Tarbes (65)
GIACOMUZZI Auguste - Pujo (65)
LABARTHE René - Trébons (65)
VICENTE Célestin - Tarbes (65)
BIRADES Jean-Pierre - Contis-Plage (40)
SOUBIRAN Marcel - Haut Nistos (65)
TRILLE Marcel - La Barthe de Neste (65)
TRILLE René - Vic en Bigorre (65)
AGUINALIN André - Tarbes (65)
THEAS Jean - Esparros (65)
DUCASSE André - Tarbes (65)
RIVIERE Georges - Escala (65)
Identité inconnue (Carcassonne) - Died
Identité inconnue (Lyon) - Died
PECHBERTI Louis - Lorignac (17)
SARRAT - Rebouc (65)
BORDES André - Tarbes (65)
DUGUES Désiré - Lisos (65)
MARGALEJO René - Pouyastruc (65)
SOULANS Pierre - Le Boilà (65)
TEULE André - Saint-Livrade (47)
DE PABLO Constant - Aureilhan (65)
SOULES Suzanne - Lannemezan (65)
BUGE Robert - Beaumont de Lomagne (82)
LAGLEZE Jean - Pau (64)
RIFFAUT André - Carcassonne (11)
DOLEAC Bertrand - Pomarez (40)
Identité et origine inconnues
Originaire de la Région Parisienne - Identité inconnue
Identité et origine inconnues - Muletier au maquis
Institutrice au Bas Nistos
Un des premiers du Maquis - Identité inconnue - Originaire de la Région de Narbonne
Identité et origine inconnues - Gravement malade à été soigné en avril 1944 chez madame Dossat à Esparros
Guerilleros groups At the end of May 1944: 60 Spanish comrades and veterans of the Spanish civil war came to join us. Here are the names of a few comrades that were given to us by Commander José Cortes from his home at Bizanos close to Pau on June 15 1989.
ARTIBAO Thomas
CASCARO P.
LACASTA
LACASTA E.
DOLOREA J.
BAQUEDANO J.
ETCHEGARRA
SAN SEBASTIAN J.
MARTINEZ J.
SALAZAR
FERNANDEZ P.
TORRIBIO E.
HERRERO J.
BLANCO
Died to Tilhouse on june 29 1944
Died to Oloron
Died to Oloron
Died to Oloron
Died to Pau
Died to Lannemezan
Died to Espagne
Died to Pologne
Died to Pau
Died to Cambo-les- Bains
Died to Alpes
Died to Saint -Sever (Landes)
Domiciled to Oloron
Domiciled to Pampelune (Espagne)
Before the arrival of our Spanish comrades, the manpower of the 3201st Coy on May 30, 1944 was roughly 140 soldiers. This had created serious logistical and equipment problems. Upon joining the Maquis prospective fighters had to be given a Non de Guerre.
The reason for this was to avoid reprisals on their families. After the Liberation, we tried to find the real identity of each Résistance Fighter of the 3201st Coy FTP . All do not appear on the list above that was established in 1989. Around 50 are missing. Many Spanish guerilleros that we were unable to find are absent from this list.
