Operation Jumelles (English: Operation Binoculars) was a military operation which was part of the Algerian War in Kabylia, Algeria. It lasted from 22 July 1959 to March 1960. It was fought between the FLN and the French Army.
Operation Jumelles | |||||||
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Part of Plan Challe - Algerian War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
France | FLN | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
General Maurice Challe (commander-in-chief) | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
20,000[5] - 50,000[6] | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown |
3,106 killed[7]
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The Operation Jumelles or Operation Binoculars is the largest military operation ever mounted in Algeria, more than 60,000 soldiers are engaged, it is led by General Maurice Challe. The fighting takes place in the Soummam Valley, Akfadou and Djudjura, in kabylia wilaya (III).
The General Massu also mentioned this operation in his book -le torrent et la digue- on page 266 he wrote: « and it will be the first time in the history of the Algerian war that a "commander in chief" will personally command an operation called "jumelles"...»
it is General Challe himself who led this operation.
All kinds of weapons and warplanes involved in this operation.
The first phase of the operation was called Pelvoux, and was fought between 22 July and 9 August. French marines led by the captain of the Sanguinetti frigate entered the Akfadou forest.
L'opération Jumelles du général Challe a cassé l'ALN. Dans les maquis, les djebels, notre armée était vaincue militairement
sa visite inhabituelle et son regard suspicieux nous confirme que l'opération "jumelles" a été couronnée de succès
car les militaires à ce momentlà sont en plein plan Challe [l'opération Jumelles en Kabylie pour réduire les maquis FLN] – qui a été un succès
40.000 hommes sous les ordres des généraux Challe et Faure pour démanteler la W III .
50 000 hommes engagés