Rex and the Scattered Networks

Jean Moulin lands clandestinely in the southern zone carrying a mandate signed by General de Gaulle himself: unify the interior Resistance under the authority of Free France. Standing before him are 3 organisations fiercely protective of their independence — Henri Frenay's Combat, d'Astier de La Vigerie's Libération, and Jean-Pierre Lévy's Franc-Tireur. Each has its own networks, printing presses, and leaders who distrust London as much as they distrust one another. Operating under the codename Rex, Moulin's only leverage consists of funds, radio links, and the legitimacy of the leader of Free France.

One temptation is to leave each movement functioning in isolation, limiting himself to ad hoc coordination of sabotage and escape operations without bruising egos forged in clandestinity. Another path would be to push for immediate armed action — maquis units, attacks, guerrilla warfare — at the risk of consuming men and resources before any political unification is secured. Yet Moulin calculates that a fragmented Resistance will remain marginal in Allied eyes and carry no weight at the Liberation.

He leans toward patience and material leverage: systematically distributing funds and weapons from London to make the movements dependent on central coordination while preserving their separate identities. Should he unite them by imposing de Gaulle's authority, accept dispersion to avoid alienating their leaders, or sacrifice unification to the urgency of armed struggle?