National Council of the Resistance

Charles de Gaulle, exiled in London and recognized by the UK as leader of Free France, began forming a committee to unify the resistance movements.

Moulin achieved the feat on 27 May 1943 with the first meeting of the Conseil National de la Résistance in the apartment of René Corbin on the second floor of 48, Rue du Four, in Paris.

Representatives of the eight major resistance movements: Under Jean Moulin's earlier influence, Combat, Franc-Tireur and Libération-Sud had already agreed to regroup themselves in January 1943 to create the Mouvements Unis de la Résistance, with their joint military arms forming the Armée secrète (Secret Army).

On 15 March 1944 the CNR adopted, after months of negotiations, the Programme of the Conseil National de la Résistance.

Some of the proposed measures were applied, at least to a certain extent, after liberation, including the nationalisation of energy (Électricité de France was founded in 1946), insurance companies (AGF in 1945) and banks (Crédit Lyonnais in 1945, Société Générale in 1946), the creation of social security programs and the independence of trade unions.

Members of the CNR after the Liberation of Paris , September 1944. From left to right: Jacques Debû-Bridel ( FR ), Pierre Villon ( FN ), Gaston Tessier ( CFTC ), Robert Chambeiron (deputy secretary-general), Pascal Copeau ( Libération-Sud ), Joseph Laniel ( AD ), Jacques Lecomte-Boinet ( CDLR ), Georges Bidault (president), André Mutter, Henri Ribière ( Libération-Nord ), Daniel Mayer ( SFIO ), Jean-Pierre Lévy ( Franc-Tireur ), Paul Bastid ( PR ), Auguste Gillot ( PCF ), Pierre Meunier (secretary-general) and Louis Saillant ( CGT )
Charles de Gaulle , circa 1942
Drawing of Jean Moulin based on iconic photo with hat and scarf, cross of Lorraine in background