Terrorism and counterterrorism in algeria, 19551957, trans. France is seeking a fine in trial of algerian war general. The battle of the casbah by paul aussaresses, 9781929638. Paul aussaresses 7 november 1918 4 december 20 was a french army general.
Battle of algiers, a major turning point in the conflict that ended in algerian. Astrology and natal chart of paul aussaresses, born on. Originally published in french under the title of services speciaux algerie 19551957 perrin 2001. General aussaresses used counterrevolutionary warfare methods during the battle of algiers, including the systemic use of torture, executions and death flights. France and algeria unconcerned by revelations of french. An unapologetic architect of a brutal torture regime in algeria, paul aussaresses taught his deadly tactics to the cia in america and pinochets secret police in chile. He detailed methods of torture used against prisoners. General paul aussaresses with his book services speciaux algerie. Paul aussaresses was a french army general who in the final years of his life dispassionately revealed the torture techniques he employed during the algerian war for independence and defended them.
Algerian war, 195462 war for algerian independence from france. Dec 12, 20 paul aussaresses was a french army general who in the final years of his life dispassionately revealed the torture techniques he employed during the algerian war for independence and defended them. General massu appointed major paul aussaresses to run a special interrogation unit based at the villa des tourelles in the mustapha district of. Aussaresses was born on 7 november 1918, just four days before the end of world war i, in saint paul capdejoux, tarn department, in languedoc. At the time, his father was serving in the french army. Jun 04, 2001 the latest revelations come in a book published recently by general paul aussaresses, 83, who was in charge of undercover operations during the battle of algiers in 1957 at the height of the war for algerian independence. It isnt often that one gets to read a book by a war criminal who is proud of his actions. The role of ideology in the frenchalgerian war, new york.
Paul aussaresses was a french army officer who served in algeria from 1955 to. Algeria 195557, was published in 2001 it caused an uproar in france and quickly became a bestseller. Paul aussaresses was a french army officer who served in algeria from 1955 to 1957, mainly as an intelligence. The film then reverts to 1954, showcasing the mounting tensions between the arabs and the french within algiers. The american gunners at yorktown journal of the american. Paul aussaresses simple english wikipedia, the free. General massus comments were widely reported in france and contrasted with those of his deputy in algiers, gen. Paul aussaresses served with the special operations executive soe in southwest france two months after dday, later with the french army in indochina modern vietnam during the campaign against. He went on to play a major role under general jacques massu in the battle of algiers, 1957 which was most famously depicted in gillo pontecorvos movie of the same name. French general paul aussaresses, a veteran of the algerian war, came to brazil in 1973. But given that its a memoir that remembers events and conversations in remarkable detail decades after. His father, paul aussaresses senior, was serving in the french military at the time of his sons birth because of the war. While most ancient societies had some kind of segregation among their people landlord and serfs, nobility and commoners, masters and slaves, etc.
Major paul aussaresses, the officer eventually tasked with dispatching the revolutionary, described how it happened in his the battle of the casbah. General massu appointed major paul aussaresses to run a special interrogation unit based at the villa des tourelles in the mustapha district of algiers. This book is particularly relevant to the current debate on terrorism. Terrorism and counterterrorism in algeria 19551957. When aussaresses published battle of the casbah it was understandably a huge upset in the french community, and not just for historians. Feb, 2019 he was then handed over to major paul aussaresses who took him to an isolated location outside algiers where he was tortured and executed on the night of march 3, 1957.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Paul aussaresses was born on november 7, 1918 in saintpaulcapdejoux, tarn, france. Paul aussaresses was a french army general, who fought during world war ii, the first. Biography of paul aussaresses excerpt paul aussaresses 7 november 1918 birth time source. The algerian revolutionary, larbi ben mhidi al jazeera. Paul aussaresses, who acknowledged without doubts or remorse that 3,000 algerians. Several major participants, including the commanding officer in algiers, general. Paul major has lived resolutely at the edge of outsider music culture for nearly a halfcentury. Read the entire book in one sitting of about four or five hours. He was dispatched to eastern algeria in 1955 where he and his unit fought the rebels of the fln. Historical authenticity of paul aussaresses battle of the.
General jacques massu, who led the french forces in the battle of algiers, wrote that the use of torture was never institutionalized or codified, a claim that was challenged by his deputy, general paul aussaresses. In his book, massu also claimed that the french military proved to be choir boys compared to the use of torture by the. Torture in the algerian war 195462 world socialist. Paul aussaresses was born on november 7, 1918 in saint paul capdejoux, tarn, france. The algerian revolutionary, larbi ben mhidi algeria al. The battle of the casbah by paul aussaresses, 9781929638, available at. Counterterrorism and torture, translated by robert l miller. A few weeks ago, after a 40year silence, general paul aussaresses, the counter espionage chief charged in 1957 with dismantling the fln algerian national liberation front, decided at the age. If you have heard of paul major, or you are familiar with real people music, or perhaps you are a fan of private press psychedelia, then this book is for you. Aussaresses wrote this book when he was around 83 years old and with full knowledge of the probable ramifications of its publication in france, to wit. Ive been reading a lot about the algerian war lately, and have several questions, this is just the most burning one i have right now.
The book was published in english translation under the title the battle of the casbah. Counting only those in the first parallel yields a total of thirtyeight pieces. Paul aussaresses repond aux questions, na rien oublie et raconte. In 1941, aussaresses served a year as an officer cadet in cherchell, algeria.
Jacques massu, 94, general who led battle of algiers the. Imagine for an instant that you are opposed to the concept of torture and you arrest someone who is clearly implicated in the preparation of a terrorist attack. As an early private press and real people record collector turned eminent, underground rock n roller, his influence is felt if not heard all around usuntil now. He fought during world war ii, the first indochina war and algerian war. Terrorism and counterterrorism in algeria, 19551957 details the brutal counterterrorist campaign against algerian insurgents during the algerian war. Paul aussaresses 7 november 1918 3 december 20 was a french army general, who fought during world war ii, the first indochina war and algerian war. Paul aussaresses, 83, was on trial not for the acts themselves, which have long been covered by an amnesty, but for telling his unapologetic version of events in a book. Sep 30, 2010 paul aussaresses, a senior french intelligence officer during the frenchalgerian war, expressed this rationale as follows. He was perhaps best known for wearing an eye patch since he lost an eye during battle.
Aussaresses contends, in his book, that the french government insisted that the military in algeria liquidate the fln as quickly as possible. Didier geslain, acte 9 4 december 20 was a french army general, who fought during world war ii, the first indochina war and algerian war. Oct 31, 2002 general massus comments were widely reported in france and contrasted with those of his deputy in algiers, gen. In mid1957 he returned to france and was no longer involved in the algerian war. Paul aussaresses author of the battle of the casbah. He also served as honorary president of the national front from 2011 to 2018. Feel the music is not your traditional biography, though it follows a fairly chronological telling of paul majors story. It details the methods, including torture and execution, and the results obtained by the paratrooper commando units led by major aussaresses. Paul aussaresses and 2 harvard law professor alan m. Paul aussaresses is the author of the battle of the casbah 3. His controversial, and some argue failed, methods include torture and summary execution.
Aussaresses was responsible for devising countermeasures, which included torture, and summary execution. Terrorism and counter terrorism in algeria, 19551957. General paul aussaresses was a career french army intelligence officer with an excellent military record during world war ii. Historical authenticity of paul aussaresses battle of. General paul aussaresses memoir the battle of the casbah. His actions during the algerian warand later defense of those actionscaused considerable controversy. Former french general paul aussaresses, convicted in 2003 for defending the act of torture after admitting his role at the head of a death squad during the algerian war, has died aged 95. He was then handed over to major paul aussaresses who took him to an isolated location outside algiers where he was tortured and executed on the night of march 3, 1957. The latest revelations come in a book published recently by general paul aussaresses, 83, who was in charge of undercover operations during the battle of algiers in 1957 at the height of the war for algerian independence. Torture in the algerian war 195462 world socialist web site. The movement for independence began during world war i 191418 and gained momentum after french promises of greater selfrule in algeria went unfulfilled after world war ii 193945. Reviewed by daniel moran, naval postgraduate school in 1957, french soldiers tortured approximately 40 percent of the male population of. Aussaresses was a career army intelligence officer with an excellent military record citation needed when.
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