NCJ Number
63558
Date Published
1968
Length
284 pages
Annotation
IN APRIL 1961, WHEN THE ALGERIAN WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE WAS DYING DOWN, A SUDDEN 4-DAY REVOLT OF SECTIONS OF THE FRENCH ARMY ERUPTED. THIS REVOLT GAVE BECOME TO THE SAVAGE SECRET ARMY ORGANIZATION.
Abstract
THE SECRET ARMY ORGANIZATION (O.A.S.) WAS A BAND OF DESPERATE GENERALS, COLONELS, JUNIOR OFFICERS, LEGIONNAIRES, AND CIVILIANS OF ALL SOCIAL CLASSES WHO WERE DETERMINED THAT ALGERIA SHOULD NOT BEOME INDEPENDENT FROM FRANCE. HOWEVER, MEMBERS' REASONS WERE CONTRADICTORY AND THEIR POLITICS CONFUSED. THEY WERE ACCUSED BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD OF BEING FASCIST AND RACIST, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE MOST FANATICAL MEMBERS WERE JEWS AND ARABS. THEY MURDERED, ROBBED, AND TERRORIZED NOT ONLY ALGERIA, BUT ALSO PARIS AND OTHER FRENCH CITIES. AMONG THE MOST NOTABLE MEMBERS WERE THE COLORFUL LIEUTENANT ROGER DEGUELDRE, GENERAL RAOUL SALAN, AND PIERRE LAGAILLARDE. THOUGH TACTICALLY A FAILURE--IT ATTEMPTED TOO MUCH IN TOO SHORT A TIME AND LACKED COORDINATION OF ITS VARIOUS FACTIONS--THE REVOLT WAS IDEOLOGICALLY EFFECTIVE. THE RISING UP OF SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF OFFICERS, STUDENTS, AND CIVILIANS WAS ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE EPISODES OF POST-WORLD WAR II HISTORY. IT WAS CAUSED PARTLY BY FRUSTRATION AT A POLITICALLY STERILE, NEO-SALAZARIST ATMOSPHERE THAT THE FIFTH REPUBLIC HAD IMPOSED ON A TEMPERMENTAL AND HIGH-SPIRITED PEOPLE, PARTLY BY A RESURGENCE OF POLITICAL ROMANTICISM IN SOME, OF FRENCH NATIONALISM IN OTHERS, AND OF BOURGEOIS FEAR OF COMMUNISM IN OTHERS. IT APPEALED TO NO ONE CLASS OR PHILOSOPHY AND DERIVED INSPIRATION FROM MANY SOURCES, INCLUDING THE CAGOULARDS, MAO TSE-TUNG, AND THE CONGO MERCENARIES, WITH THE POSSIBLE CEMENT BEING HATRED FOR GENERAL CHARLES DE GAULLE. THIS NARRATIVE DESCRIBES THE ORIGINS OF THE ARMY, THE DAYS OF ITS OPERATIONS IN 1961 AND 1962, AND ITS FINAL DISSOLUTION WITH THE ARREST OF DEGUELDRE. (DAG)