The Battle of Bab el Oued (French: Bataille de Bab el Oued) was a violent confrontation which occurred during the latter stages of the Algerian War (1954–1962) between the French Army and the Organisation armée secrète (OAS) which opposed Algerian independence. It took place in Bab El Oued, a traditionally white working-class quarters of Algiers, from 23 March to 6 April 1962.
The Battle of Bab el Oued was principally a battle between the French Gendarmerie Mobile and the OAS Commando Delta. The French government forces used M8 Greyhound armoured cars to control the exits to the town whilst suspicious buildings were surveilled from the air by T-6 and T-28 aircraft departing from Boufarik Air Base. Four T-6s strafed the roofs to clear them from snipers after Army helicopters dropped canisters with tear gas.[2] As part of the attack, naval artillery support from the T 47-class destroyersSurcouf and Maillé-Brézé was planned, though it soon became evident that this was not practical and the bombardment was called off.[3] Most of the troops setting siege to the quarter had been ferried to Algeria by Surcouf and Maillé-Brézé, along with other three destroyers, on 2 March.[4]
In support of Bab-el Oued, 200 OAS maquis marched from Algiers to Ouarsenis, a mountainous region between Oran and Algiers. They tried to capture two French military outposts and gain support from local Muslim tribes loyal to France, but instead these forces were harassed and eventually defeated by Legion units led by Colonel Albert Brothier after several days of fighting.[5]
Arrest of General Jouhaud (25 March)
On 25 March 1962, General Edmond Jouhaud (adjutant to the commander of the OAS Raoul Salan and commander of the OAS-Oranie, the Oran branch of the OAS) was arrested at the Hôtel Panoramic d'Oran with his adjutant, Commander Julien Camelin.
1962 Isly massacre
The Great Post-Office of Algiers, where the 1962 Isly massacre took place. After independence, the rue d'Isly (which was named after the Battle of Isly) was renamed in honour of FLN commander Larbi Ben M'hidi.
The 1962 Isly massacre was an incident which occurred on 26 March 1962 in which a largely peaceful demonstration of anti-independence Pied-Noirs attempted to force their way through French Army roadblocks around the Great Post-Office of Algiers. The demonstrators encountered a roadblock manned by 45 soldiers from the 4th Tirailleur Regiment who fired on the crowd with machine guns. Between 50 and 80 Pied-Noirs demonstrators were killed in the massacre.[6]
Casualties
According to the historian Benjamin Stora, 35 people were killed during the Battle of Bab el Oued and around 150 were wounded.[7] Six French soldiers were killed by the OAS in a previous ambush.[8]
References
^ abAmouroux, Henri and Courrière, Yves (1988). La France contemporaine, La guxrre d'Algérie, t.IX. Tallendier, p.424 (in French)
^Harrison, Alexander (1989). Challenging De Gaulle: The OAS and the counterrevolution in Algeria (1954–1962). Greenwood press, p. 120. ISBN0-275-92791-1
^Evans, Martin (24 November 2011). Algeria: France's Undeclared War. Oxford University Press. p. 315. ISBN978-0192803504.
^Benjamin Stora, Les mots de la guerre d'Algérie, Presses Universitaires du Mirail, 2005, p.18 (in French)
^,Ligue des droits de l'homme (LDH, Human Rights League), article based on sources from Benjamin Stora,Histoire de la guerre d'Algérie, La gangrène et l'oubli and Sylvie Thénault, Histoire de la guerre d'indépendance algérienne(in French)
External links
(in French) Chillet, La Bataille de Bab-el-Oued, article from the journal Accent Grave n.14 April 1963[permanent dead link]
(in French)Fusillade à Bab-el-Oued dirigée sur le 2e bataillon du 73e RIMa au poste de zouaves, ECPAD
battle, oued, battle, oued, french, bataille, oued, violent, confrontation, which, occurred, during, latter, stages, algerian, 1954, 1962, between, french, army, organisation, armée, secrète, which, opposed, algerian, independence, took, place, oued, tradition. The Battle of Bab el Oued French Bataille de Bab el Oued was a violent confrontation which occurred during the latter stages of the Algerian War 1954 1962 between the French Army and the Organisation armee secrete OAS which opposed Algerian independence It took place in Bab El Oued a traditionally white working class quarters of Algiers from 23 March to 6 April 1962 Battle of Bab El OuedPart of the Algerian WarModern day view of Bab el OuedDate23 March 6 April 1962LocationBab El Oued Algiers AlgeriaResultFrench government victoryBelligerentsFrench RepublicOASCommanders and leadersCharles AilleretRaoul SalanCasualties and losses15 killed77 wounded 1 20 killed60 wounded 1 Contents 1 Context 1 1 The OAS uprising 19 March 2 Siege of Bab el Oued from 23 March to 6 April 2 1 Arrest of General Jouhaud 25 March 2 2 1962 Isly massacre 3 Casualties 4 References 5 External linksContext EditThe OAS uprising 19 March Edit source source source source source source source source source source track Algeria Tense Cease Fire Bab el Oued 22 March 1962 See also Organisation armee secrete The OAS was an organization of hard line European Pieds Noirs living in the then French territory Algeria who were opposed to the cease fire announced by French president Charles de Gaulle on 19 March 1962 between French forces and the Front de liberation nationale FLN forces fighting for Algerian Independence The OAS decided to dig in at their stronghold of Bab El Oued a traditionally European working class area to fight the Evian Agreements by force Siege of Bab el Oued from 23 March to 6 April EditThe Battle of Bab el Oued was principally a battle between the French Gendarmerie Mobile and the OAS Commando Delta The French government forces used M8 Greyhound armoured cars to control the exits to the town whilst suspicious buildings were surveilled from the air by T 6 and T 28 aircraft departing from Boufarik Air Base Four T 6s strafed the roofs to clear them from snipers after Army helicopters dropped canisters with tear gas 2 As part of the attack naval artillery support from the T 47 class destroyers Surcouf and Maille Breze was planned though it soon became evident that this was not practical and the bombardment was called off 3 Most of the troops setting siege to the quarter had been ferried to Algeria by Surcouf and Maille Breze along with other three destroyers on 2 March 4 In support of Bab el Oued 200 OAS maquis marched from Algiers to Ouarsenis a mountainous region between Oran and Algiers They tried to capture two French military outposts and gain support from local Muslim tribes loyal to France but instead these forces were harassed and eventually defeated by Legion units led by Colonel Albert Brothier after several days of fighting 5 Arrest of General Jouhaud 25 March Edit On 25 March 1962 General Edmond Jouhaud adjutant to the commander of the OAS Raoul Salan and commander of the OAS Oranie the Oran branch of the OAS was arrested at the Hotel Panoramic d Oran with his adjutant Commander Julien Camelin 1962 Isly massacre Edit The Great Post Office of Algiers where the 1962 Isly massacre took place After independence the rue d Isly which was named after the Battle of Isly was renamed in honour of FLN commander Larbi Ben M hidi The 1962 Isly massacre was an incident which occurred on 26 March 1962 in which a largely peaceful demonstration of anti independence Pied Noirs attempted to force their way through French Army roadblocks around the Great Post Office of Algiers The demonstrators encountered a roadblock manned by 45 soldiers from the 4th Tirailleur Regiment who fired on the crowd with machine guns Between 50 and 80 Pied Noirs demonstrators were killed in the massacre 6 Casualties EditAccording to the historian Benjamin Stora 35 people were killed during the Battle of Bab el Oued and around 150 were wounded 7 Six French soldiers were killed by the OAS in a previous ambush 8 References Edit a b Amouroux Henri and Courriere Yves 1988 La France contemporaine La guxrre d Algerie t IX Tallendier p 424 in French Time magazine Volume 8 p 119 Time Inc 1962 Roche Jean Michel 2010 Escorteur d Escadre Surcouf Fleet Escort Surcouf in French Netmarine net Retrieved 6 May 2016 Labour research Volume 51 p 112 Labour Research Department 1962 Harrison Alexander 1989 Challenging De Gaulle The OAS and the counterrevolution in Algeria 1954 1962 Greenwood press p 120 ISBN 0 275 92791 1 Evans Martin 24 November 2011 Algeria France s Undeclared War Oxford University Press p 315 ISBN 978 0192803504 Benjamin Stora Les mots de la guerre d Algerie Presses Universitaires du Mirail 2005 p 18 in French 26 mars 1962 la fusillade de la rue d Isly a Alger Ligue des droits de l homme LDH Human Rights League article based on sources from Benjamin Stora Histoire de la guerre d Algerie La gangrene et l oubli and Sylvie Thenault Histoire de la guerre d independance algerienne in French External links Edit in French Chillet La Bataille de Bab el Oued article from the journal Accent Grave n 14 April 1963 permanent dead link in French Fusillade a Bab el Oued dirigee sur le 2e bataillon du 73e RIMa au poste de zouaves ECPADCoordinates 36 47 26 53 N 3 2 59 03 E 36 7907028 N 3 0497306 E 36 7907028 3 0497306 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Bab El Oued amp oldid 1121420505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
