18 January 1979(1979-01-18) (aged 73) Paris, France
Allegiance
France
Service/branch
French Army (1925-1928) French Air Force (1928-1961)
Years of service
1925–1961
Rank
Général d’Armée
Battles/wars
World War II Algerian War Algiers putsch 1961
Maurice Challe (5 September 1905 – 18 January 1979) was a French general during the Algerian War, one of four generals who took part in the Algiers putsch.
A native of Le Pontet, Vaucluse, and a veteran of the Second World War, Challe transmitted the Luftwaffe order of battle to the British prior to D-Day and backed De Gaulle's return to power.[1] Challe initially served his conscription service in the infantry and was later appointed a pilot officer in military aviation, going on to become commander of the French Air Force in Algeria between 1955 and 1960.
In July 1956, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser took control of the Suez Canal, in violation of agreements he had signed with the British and French governments. On 14 October 1956, Challe visited British Prime Minister Anthony Eden at Chequers, accompanied by French Minister of Labor Albert Gazier. The two Frenchmen told Eden of the secret negotiations between Israel and France regarding a proposed Israeli attack on Egypt followed with military occupation by European powers, to control the Suez Canal. Eden backed the plan with UK resources including military forces, directly leading to the Suez Crisis.[2][3][4][5]
Challe was a French Air Force general whose greatest military success was in the realm of counter-insurgency operations during the Algerian War. His offensive, begun in March 1959, succeeded in substantially weakening the ALN. Through the use of speed and concentration of force, Challe kept the ALN insurgents in constant retreat and disorder. His innovative tactics would be studied and emulated by others - notably Syrian government forces in the Syrian Civil War seeking to keep insurgency at bay and off balance. The Challe Plan was only partially completed before he was reassigned to France.
A line of electrified wire, minefields and other military barriers, the Challe Line, was named after him. It doubled another defence work, the Morice Line, which fortified the border and separated Algeria from Morocco and Tunisia.[6]
He was Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe (CINCENT) from May 1960 to his deliberate resignation in February 1961.[citation needed]
Challe was one of the heads of the Algiers putsch of 1961, along with Raoul Salan, Edmond Jouhaud, and André Zeller. A prime reason for Challe's involvement was his concern that the Muslim harkis who had served with the French Army against the FLN would be subject to reprisals in the event of Algerian independence. In the event, large numbers of these loyalists were massacred in 1962.[7] After the failure of the putsch, he and Zeller surrendered to the French Army (while Salan and Jouhaud created the OAS). Challe was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He was freed in December 1966 and received amnesty from President de Gaulle in 1968. Challe died on 18 January 1979, aged 73, in Paris.[citation needed]
^Fenby, Johnathan (2010). The General: Charles De Gaulle and the France He Saved. London: Simon & Schuster. p. 438. ISBN 978-1-84737-392-2.
^Marr, Andrew (2009). A History of Modern Britain. Macmillan. pp. 212–213. ISBN 978-1-4299-3101-4.
^Melady, John (2006). Pearson's prize: Canada and the Suez Crisis. Dundurn Press. pp. 75–76. ISBN 1-55002-611-9.
^Kingseed, Cole Christian (1995). Eisenhower and the Suez Crisis of 1956. Political traditions in foreign policy. LSU Press. p. 82. ISBN 0-8071-1987-3.
^Shaw, Tony (1996). Eden, Suez, and the mass media: propaganda and persuasion during the Suez crisis. I.B.Tauris. pp. 67–69. ISBN 1-85043-955-9.
^LIGNES CHALLE ET MORICE.html Lignes Challe et Morice, 1novembre54.com. Accessed 8 November 2022.
^Horne, Alistair (1978). A Savage War of Peace. Viking Press. p. 537. ISBN 0-670-61964-7.
MauriceChalle (5 September 1905 – 18 January 1979) was a French general during the Algerian War, one of four generals who took part in the Algiers putsch...
Muslims. Organised in French Algeria by retired French Army generals MauriceChalle (former commander-in-chief in French Algeria), Edmond Jouhaud (former...
missions against FLN strongholds. In 1959, Salan's successor, General MauriceChalle, appeared to have suppressed major rebel resistance, but political developments...
organize the putsch on 21 April 1961 with André Zeller, Edmond Jouhaud and MauriceChalle. After the failure of the putsch, he became the chief of Organisation...
Army Gen. Raoul Salan, who shared his hatred for de Gaulle. Generals MauriceChalle and Andre Zeller joined them in a group that seized power in Algiers...
Algeria, more than 60,000 soldiers are engaged, it is led by General MauriceChalle. The fighting takes place in the Soummam Valley, Akfadou and Djudjura...
support their comrades. The Cold War excuse was later used by General MauriceChalle through his famous "Do you want Mers El Kébir and Algiers to become...
Commando force raised for the Algerian war. French Air Force General MauriceChalle ordered the forming of Commandos de Chasse (Hunting Commandos) in December...
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Cyprus were not free. Only on 5 October 1956 during a visit by General MauriceChalle to Britain where he met with Eden, were the British informed of the...
playing ball in Tulle Prison". The four were Raoul Salan, Edmond Jouhaud, MauriceChalle and André Zeller. The last of them to be released was Salan, amnestied...
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won by FLN. The French strategy, led by Charles de Gaulle and General MauriceChalle, alienated the population and resulted in international condemnation...
planning alongside Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury, Christian Pineau and Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces General MauriceChalle, and British Foreign...
April 1961 Directorate:- In rebellion during the Algiers putsch of 1961 MauriceChalle André Zeller Edmond Jouhaud Raoul Salan 19 March 1962 to 3 July 1962...
since 1930, is killed in an ambush. May 31 In France, rebel generals MauriceChalle and Andre Zelelr are sentenced to 15 years in prison. South Africa becomes...
Jielun), bestselling Taiwanese Mandopop singer and actor; in Linkou Died: MauriceChalle, 73, former French Air Force General who participated in a revolt to...
Noël Castelain Marc Castin Louis Castin Raymond Cazade René Challe Bernard ChalleMauriceChalle Antoine de la Chapelle Charles Chesnais Raymond Clausse Pierre...
Trinquier led the regiment during the Challe Offensive, proposed by the French commander in Algeria, MauriceChalle, to cripple the FLN. In March 1959,...
committee with right-wing civilians. Four other French Army generals (MauriceChalle, Edmond Jouhaud, André Zeller, and Raoul Salan) were angry at the order...
champion club of European soccer football. In France, rebel generals MauriceChalle and André Zeller, captured soon after the Algiers putsch, were sentenced...
operatic tenor singer; from lobar pneumonia Four retired French Generals — MauriceChalle and Raoul Salan, both of whom had formerly been Commanders-in-Chief...
Central Europe October 1956 May 1960 3 years, 7 months France 3 Challe, MauriceMauriceChalle (1905–1979) Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe...
organized by four retired French army generals. 31 May Rebel generals MauriceChalle and Andre Zelelr are sentenced to 15 years in prison. President John...
Italian anarchist and trade union organizer French Air Force General MauriceChalle arrived in Algeria as the new commander-in-chief of the French forces...
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