The Crimes of Colonel Bigeard in the Touat Region of Southern Algeria During the Algerian War of Independence (1957-1962)

Abstract

Abstract: This research paper sheds light on the atrocities committed by General Bigeard and his paratroopers in the Great Western Erg region of Touat, and their impact on the course of the Algerian Revolution. In fact, The Touat region played an important role in the Algerian revolution’s strategy to expand its scope and reach. Administratively, this region belonged to the Third District of the Eighth Region of the Fifth Wilaya (province) until 1957, and then became part of the Third Region of the same Wilaya from 1959 onwards. The Saharan region made an effective contribution to the events and developments of the Algerian revolution, as evidenced by the fierce battles fought by the people of the region against the invading occupier during the period from October 15, 1957 to 1962. Including for example, the Battle of HassiSaka, which was the first major battle of the Great Western Erg, led by a group of Algerian deserters from the French army.Moreover, when the occupation administration was boasting about the ideality of the region and its encouraging conditions for investment and development, especially after the discovery of oil in 1956, the first armed action by the great western tribe in the far south of Algeria erupted, thwarting and destroying all French plans in the region. The occupation forces found no choice in the face of this great challenge other than to summon the commander of the jungle war in Indochina and the narrow streets of Algiers, the butcher General “Bigeard”, to crush this rebellion and subdue the region. Keywords: Algerian Revolution; Touat; Great Western Erg; French crimes; General Bigeard.