France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance

France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance

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France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance

7 Days Starting in Compiègne, France and ending in Amiens, France

Visiting: Compiegne, Paris, Limoges, Valençay, Amiens

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

fsa

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing

Tour Overview

Embark on a poignant journey through France's turbulent history during World War II with the "France Under the Jackboot – SOE, SAS & the French Resistance" tour. This immersive experience takes you from the Battle of France in 1940 to the heart-wrenching events of the Holocaust. Visit the Holocaust Memorial at Drancy and explore the legacy of SOE heroine Violette Szabo in Limoges. Witness the haunting remnants of Oradour-sur-Glane, a village decimated by SS troops, and conclude your journey in northern France at a memorial site honoring the French Resistance. Enjoy comfortable accommodations in Compiegne, Limoges, and Amiens, with travel from the UK included. This fully guided tour offers a deep dive into the resilience and sacrifice of those who fought against Nazi occupation, providing a moving tribute to the courage of the French Resistance and Allied forces.

Highlights

  • Look at the experience of France under Nazi occupation during the Second World War from the Battle of France in 1940 to the terrible events of the Holocaust in France.

  • See the Holocaust Memorial at Drancy, and go into Limoges to look at SOE Heroine Violette Szabo before seeing Oradour sur Glane where a whole community was wiped out.

  • Visit the Compiegne Memorial Museum, looking at the Holocaust in this part of France.

  • Follow the trail of SOE Agent Violette Szabo close to Limoges, seeing the village where she was sheltered and the area where she was captured.

  • Visit the village of Oradour sur Glane, preserved as a memorial site, to learn of the tragic events from WW2.

  • Examine the role of British Special Air Service troops behind enemy lines in occupied France and visit the SOE Memorial at Valencay.

  • Explore the French resistance in northern France, including the Resistance Museum at Bondues near Lille and the 'Mur des Fusillies' memorial site.

Places You'll See

Paris, France

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Compiegne

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service then, to Compiegne, north of Paris for two nights.

Day 2 : Battle Of France

Location: Compiegne

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

We start by looking at the German Blitzkrieg in 1940 and the Fall of France. We see where the Germans humiliated France by forcing them to surrender where the Armistice of 1918 was signed, seeing the museum here. In the Compiegne Forest we see where Paris’ Jews were deported by train to Concentration Camps. In the afternoon we visit the Compiegne Memorial Museum, looking at the Holocaust in this part of France, and end the day by visiting the graves of French soldiers who fell in defence of Paris. Please note: for 2023/4 the Resistance Museum at Tergnier is closed for a major refit and will not reopen for some time. Instead, we will visit the Memorial at Compiegne in its place.

Day 3 : The Holocaust In Paris

Location: Paris

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Limoges Nord

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we focus on the experience of the Jewish community in Paris during WW2 seeing the Holocaust Memorial site at Drancy which served as a Concentration Camp before those held here were sent off to camps in Germany and in the East. We view where the camp was, see the memorials and the Visitors Centre*. In the afternoon we depart for Limoges for two nights.

Day 4 : Soe In Limoges; Oradour-Sur-Glane

Location: Limoges

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Ibis Limoges Nord

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning we follow the trail of SOE Agent Violette Szabo close to Limoges, seeing the village where she was sheltered, the area where she was dropped in and the ground where she was captured. In the afternoon we visit the village of Oradour sur Glane which was wiped out by SS troops in 1944. Now preserved as a memorial site, we enter through the visitors centre to learn of this tragic event from WW2 and spend the afternoon among the deserted streets left just as they were in 1944.

Day 5 : Soe Memorial

Location: Valençay

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Holiday Inn Express Amiens, or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We depart Limoges and examine the role of British Special Air Service troops behind enemy lines in occupied France and visit the SOE Memorial at Valencay. We then depart for Amiens where we stay for two nights.

Day 6 : Amiens Prison & French Resistance

Location: Amiens

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Holiday Inn Express Amiens, or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we look at the French resistance in northern France travelling to the Resistance Museum at Bondues near Lille. After lunch in Arras, we visit the ‘Mur des Fusillies’: the moat of an old fort where members of the Resistance were executed during WWII, now a poignant memorial site. We then travel to Amiens seeing where the attack on Amiens Prison took place. Here RAF Mosquitos bombed the prison. We also visit the graves of the RAF crews in the nearby cemetery.

Day 7

Location: Amiens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return home.

What's Included

  • Meals
    6 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners

  • Additional Services

    Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation is provided as detailed in the itinerary.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point.

  • International Travel

    International travel is included.

  • Fully Guided

    The tour is fully guided.

  • Transport

    Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach is provided for transport.

What's Not Included

InsuranceTravel insurance is not included.

Accommodation

You will stay for two nights in Compiegne, near Paris at a 3-star hotel, then two nights at the 3-star ibis Limoges Centre and finally two nights at the 3-star B&B Amiens Centre Cathedrale.

Mode of Transport

Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point with a comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach.

Check out our Q&As

  • What historical events does the tour focus on?

    The tour focuses on France under Nazi occupation during World War II, including the Battle of France in 1940, the Holocaust in France, and the activities of the French Resistance.

  • What significant sites related to the Holocaust will be visited?

    The tour includes visits to the Holocaust Memorial at Drancy, which served as a concentration camp, and the Compiegne Memorial Museum, which focuses on the Holocaust in that part of France.

  • Will the tour cover any stories of individual war heroes?

    Yes, the tour will cover the story of SOE Agent Violette Szabo, including visiting the village where she was sheltered and the area where she was captured.

  • What is the significance of Oradour-sur-Glane in the tour?

    Oradour-sur-Glane is a village that was wiped out by SS troops in 1944. It is preserved as a memorial site, and the tour includes a visit to learn about this tragic event.

  • What will be explored regarding the French Resistance?

    The tour will explore the French Resistance in northern France, including a visit to the Resistance Museum at Bondues and the 'Mur des Fusillies', a memorial site where members of the Resistance were executed.

  • What role did the British Special Air Service play in the events covered by the tour?

    The tour examines the role of British Special Air Service troops behind enemy lines in occupied France, including a visit to the SOE Memorial at Valençay.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?

    Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Remon Wanis (Google Reviewer)  

We have been working with...

05-Aug-2024

We have been working with them for nearly a year now as Sussex Airports Taxis, and they offer the best customer service ever. All their customers are always happy when they return from their holidays. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come.

William Olley (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

21-Aug-2024

I recently went on a coach holiday with this company. Everything was on time but there can be traffic hold ups with jams and roadworks! The coach was comfortable and the driver stopped for rest periods. The hotel was a 3 star close to a spectacular beach and was adequate. The catering was excellent! I went on the excursions included in the package and visited some lovely places.

Gordon Price (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from Italian holiday....

21-Jul-2024

just returned from Italian holiday. It was great spoilt a little by the high temperature even Ledger can't control that. The only real thing to spoil the trip was one of the hotels. The Krystall hotel in Diano Marina was terrible the room was dire with cracks in shower bogged up shower fittings noe control for AC end so on. The food was very poor, limited choice luke warm food on cold plates. After 4 evening meals (3 or four courses) we were only able to remember 2 we enjoyed. Breakfast was poor no bread except for hard rolls. No fresh fruit if you liked cake for breakfast you were good. If this is a 3 star hotel Italian standards have fallen which I don't think they have. Ledger brochure states "some of Europes most fascinating unique hotels" for Luxuria trips. This hotel should be removed from your list at once. The holiday was other wise good I cannot praise your coach crew too to much they were excellent. A highlight of the trip was the return trip through the swiss alps. It was superb and deserves mention in your holiday iteniary description.

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

Suzanne Maylin (Google Reviewer)  

Having returned from a fabulous...

24-Sep-2024

Having returned from a fabulous tour of Austria with excellent tour guides/ drivers, it's disappointing to say the least that I'm left chasing a return for an excursion that was cancelled. I called Leger 5 days ago and am still waiting in a call back. Leger if you want to retain customers you need step up on service. Good training , good service costs very little, and once embedded in a company produces more income. I don't suppose anyone from Leger will respond to this, but who knows

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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