Challe Plan
| Challe Plan خريطة تشال Plan Challe | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Algerian War | |||||||||
 French soldiers entering a Sikorsky H-34 during the Challe Plan | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 France |
 ALN | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Maurice Challe | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| c. 600,000[3] | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | 26,000 dead and 10,800 prisoners[4] | ||||||||
The Challe Plan was a counterinsurgency military operation conducted by and named after French general Maurice Challe, which was meant to decisively put an end to the ALN insurgency which lasted from 1959 to 1960,[5][6] during the Algerian War.
Background
[edit]The Algerian War had been in progress for around a decade, started by Algerian nationalism and anti-imperialism. From 1956-1957, the ALN had conducted continuous operations of guerilla warfare against the French Army. They were establishing control over several parts of French Algeria, inciting Muslims to join their revolt against the French, and causing the French public opinion to protest strongly against war. Replacing Raoul Salan, French commander Maurice Challe was put in charge of handling the insurgency.
Operation
[edit]The order of the plan was to disperse the French units from their positions and attack ALN hideouts and strongholds. In February of 1959, Maurice Challe launched a large scale operation across Algeria. Using the French reserves in a calculated manner, they were deployed, and tasked with targeting and destroying the ALN bases. The French Air Force was also involved, and was ordered to heavily cooperate with the French Army. The French army reinforced the old roadblocks on the borders of Algeria with new ones, and separated the ALN from the Muslim Algerian population through questionable methods.
Aftermath
[edit]While the ALN sustained heavy casualties, the Challe plan failed to achieve its objectives of destroying it and winning the Algerian people.[7] In the following years, no major French operations would be conducted, the Évian Accords would be signed, and would end with the 1962 Algerian independence referendum.
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/en/military-aspects-algerian-war "In February 1959, he [Maurice Challe] launched a large-scale offensive strategy..."
- ^ Gougeon, François-Marie. (2005). The Challe Plan: Vain Yet Indispensable Victory. Small Wars and Insurgencies. "On April 23, 1960, General Maurice Challe left Algiers and his position as Commander in Chief there..."
- ^ Guy Pervillé (2024). Atlas de la guerre d'Algérie. Autrement. p. 84. ISBN 978-2-7467-4796-8.
- ^ Jean-Charles Jauffret (2016). La Guerre d’Algérie. Odile Jacob. p. 4. ISBN 978-2-7381-6441-4.
- ^ https://hal.science/hal-03958209
- ^ http://guy.perville.free.fr/spip/article.php3?id_article=99 "General Challe believed victory was within reach when he had to leave his command in April 1960..."
- ^ Amelia H. Lyons (2013). The Civilizing Mission in the Metropole. Stanford University Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-8047-8714-7.