One of Germany's last operations, in June 1944, was the destruction of this maquis, where 350 poorly equipped young resistance fighters ("maquisards") stood up to 2,500 Germans, before dispersing. On 29 June, 27 captured maquisards were shot at La Bouvardière château.
Bibliography (French)
Le Drame du Maquis de Saffré, A. Perraud-Charmantier, Editions du Fleuve, Nantes 1946