Operation Blue Bird

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Indian National Security Forces Operation, see Operation Bluebird.
Operation Blue Bird
Part of Algerian War
DateApril 1956 - 1 October 1956
Location
Kabylia, Algeria
Result

FLN victory

  • French operational failure
Belligerents

Algeria FLN

  • "Force K" defectors

 French Republic

  • "Force K"
Commanders and leaders
Algeria Krim Belkacem
Algeria Saïd Mohammedi
Algeria Zaidat Ahmed
Algeria Mehlal Said
Algeria Omar Toumi		 France Robert Lacoste
France General Lorillot
France Captain Hentic
Strength
300 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown, at least 2 killed 12 killed
6 wounded
400 weapons seized

Operation Blue Bird was a mission carried out by France's foreign intelligence service, the

National Liberation Front (FLN), with the hopes of creating a clandestine counter-resistance force. These Kabyle fighters were known as Force K.[1]

The operation backfired and resulted in supplying the FLN with money, weapons, and new soldiers. The operation remained secret for many years, and it is still largely unknown in France and Algeria. Yves Courrière claims to have been the first to make information about the operation available to the public.[2]

History of the operation

Organization

The idea of setting up a "counter-resistance" in

Governor-General Jacques Soustelle. He instructed Gaston Pontal, director of the Direction de la surveillance du territoire (DST) and the Algerian police, to set up the operation.[3] When the Service Action
of the SDECE was first suggested to take charge of the "counter-resistance" in coastal Kabylie, the proposal was initially rejected.

Soustelle obtained an agreement for the launch of a counter-resistance operation from General Lorillot, commander of the Tenth Military Region and his 2nd Bureau. Captain Benedetti of the Operational Intelligence Service (ORS) was the correspondent. During the course of its planning in 1955, it was decided the operation would be called "Force K" (for Kabylie). It was later called "Blue Bird" and was continued by Governor Robert Lacoste, who succeeded Soustelle. Captain Camous was asked to supervise the practical details of the operation. Camous, wary from his experience with special missions, allowed the police to manage the undercover agents who were the backbone of the operation.

The inspector of the DST, Ousmeur, himself of Kabyle origin, came into contact with Tahar Hachiche on the order of his chain of command. Hachiche easily accepted the idea of helping to organize an anti-FLN resistance in the region, where the supporters of the

Said Mohammedi, who encouraged Krim Belkacem. They entrusted him[who?
] with the organization and responsibility of the maneuver.

On the ground, especially in

shotguns), the corresponding ammunition, and two million francs. Thus, 200 weapons were delivered in January 1956, and 80 more in February–March. The funds allocated by the governor-general amounted to nine million per month.[4]

A stela is erected in Azazga in honor of Mehlal Said and Zaidet Ahmed for their contribution to Operation Blue Bird.

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ Si cette opération est connue sous le nom d'« Oiseau bleu » répandu par les historiens qui utilisent une compilation répétée de sources don't l'imaginaire n'est pas toujours absent, aucun des initiateurs ou des participants ne le confirme. Pour eux, il s'agit de « Opération K », comme Kabylie. Trésor du Patrimoine, no 4, sept-oct 2002, Éditions Historiques, p 6
  2. ^ Yves Courrière (1970). Guerre d'Algérie: Les fils de la Toussaint. Vol. I. Fayard.
  3. ^ Le montage de l'affaire K, dite Oiseau Bleu [archive], Maurice Faivre, etudescoloniales, 27 décembre 2010
  4. ^ Trésor du Patrimoine, no 4, sept-oct 2002, Éditions Historiques, pp : 7

External links


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