Paul Aussaresses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Aussaresses
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Général Paul Aussaresses
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| Born | 7 November 1918 Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux, France |
| Died | 3 December 2013 (aged 95) Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service/ |
French Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1975 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 11e Choc 1er RCP |
| Battles/wars | World War II First Indochina War Algerian War |
Paul Aussaresses (7 November 1918 – 3 December 2013) was a French Army general. He served in several major conflicts, including World War II, the First Indochina War, and the Algerian War. His actions and later statements about the Algerian War caused a lot of discussion and disagreement.
Aussaresses was an experienced military intelligence officer. He joined the Free French Forces in North Africa during World War II. In 1947, he took command of the 11th Shock Battalion. This was a special commando unit that worked with France's intelligence agency, the SDECE.
Later, Aussaresses sparked controversy in 2000. He gave an interview where he discussed his methods during the Algerian War. He repeated these views in a book called The Battle of the Casbah. Because of this, he lost his military rank and the right to wear his uniform. He also lost his Légion d'Honneur, a high French award. A documentary in 2003 showed that after moving to Brazil, he advised leaders in South America on certain military methods.
Paul Aussaresses was easily recognized by his eye patch. He lost his left eye due to a surgery that didn't go as planned.
Contents
Paul Aussaresses: A Military Life
Early Years and Army Career
Paul Aussaresses was born on 7 November 1918. This was just a few days before World War I ended. His birthplace was Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux, a town in France. His father was serving in the French military at the time.
In 1941, Aussaresses trained as an officer in Cherchell, Algeria. The next year, he joined a special services unit in France. He was part of a secret team called "Jedburgh." These teams parachuted behind enemy lines in August 1944 during World War II. Their job was to work secretly with the local French Resistance. They helped coordinate their efforts with the Allied commanders. Aussaresses' team worked with the Resistance in Ariège.
After the war, in 1946, he joined the 11th Choc Battalion. He led this battalion from 1947 to 1948. Later, he served in the First Indochina War with the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment.
Serving in Philippeville
In 1955, Aussaresses was sent to Philippeville, Algeria. He became an intelligence officer for the 41st Parachute Demi-Brigade. He helped restart their intelligence unit. The French Army needed this unit to deal with Algerian rebels.
On 20 August 1955, the FLN attacked the police in Philippeville. Aussaresses said he knew about this attack beforehand. He reported that the FLN forced many people to march in front of them. These people were used as human shields. His battalion faced many casualties during this event.
The Suez Operation
In the spring of 1956, Aussaresses attended a secret training camp. It was in Salisbury, England. The training was for the upcoming battle at the Suez Canal. He returned to Bône, Algeria, in May 1956. He continued training with paratroopers for the Suez operation.
However, on 1 June 1956, he was injured during a parachuting exercise. He fractured his spine. This injury prevented him from taking part in the Suez Crisis.
Working with General Massu in Algiers
General Jacques Massu noticed Aussaresses' work in Philippeville. He asked Aussaresses to work under him in Algiers. Aussaresses' role was to gather intelligence on the FLN in Algiers. He started this duty on 8 January 1957. He became a key intelligence officer for General Massu during the Battle of Algiers.
On 28 January, the FLN organized a citywide strike. Aussaresses helped break this strike. Soldiers made public utility workers go to their jobs. Storefronts were opened so owners had to open their shops.
Legal Proceedings
After Aussaresses made his statements, human rights groups took action. The Ligue des droits de l'homme (Human Rights League) filed a complaint against him. They said he was justifying certain actions from the war. He was fined 7,500 Euros by a court in Paris. The publishers of his book were also fined.
The court stated that freedom of speech does not allow someone to justify actions that go against human dignity. Aussaresses had written that certain harsh methods became necessary in urgent situations. The court rejected this justification.
Life After Algeria
Aussaresses continued his military career after the Algerian War. Unlike some other officers, he did not join the OAS. This group wanted to continue fighting in Algeria. In 1961, he became a military attaché in the USA. He worked at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There, he shared his experiences from the Battle of Algiers. He discussed strategies for dealing with rebellions.
According to Aussaresses, he taught lessons from a book on "subversive warfare." This book was written by Colonel Trinquier, whom Aussaresses had served under. Some believe that the American Phoenix Program during the Vietnam War was influenced by these ideas. However, others say that American officers did not agree with Aussaresses' more extreme suggestions.
In 1973, Aussaresses moved to Brazil. Brazil was under military rule at the time. He kept close ties with the military there. Some reports suggest he advised South American military leaders on strategies for dealing with political opponents.
In Popular Culture
The character of Julien Boisfeuras in the novels The Centurions and The Praetorians is thought by many to be partly inspired by Aussaresses. These books were written by Jean Larteguy.
In the novel Powderhouse by Jens Bjørneboe, there is a character who shares a similar life story with Aussaresses. This character is described as having served in Algiers and later teaching his methods to groups in South America.
