Operation Jumelles

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
Part of Plan Challe - Algerian War
Date July 1959 – March 1960 Location Kabylia Wilaya III Result French victory[1][2][3]
Belligerents
France	FLN
Commanders and leaders
General Maurice Challe (commander-in-chief) General Jacques Faure[4]	Unknown
Strength
20,000[5] - 50,000[6]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	3,106 killed[7] 2,506 captured

Overview

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.

References

1. Elkabbach, Jean-Pierre; Veber, Martin (27 October 2022). Les rives de la mémoire (in French). Groupe Robert Laffont. ISBN 978-2-38292-307-8. L'opération Jumelles du général Challe a cassé l'ALN. Dans les maquis, les djebels, notre armée était vaincue militairement
2. Hélices, Tuyères et Palétuviers (in French). Editions Publibook. ISBN 978-2-7483-0196-0. sa visite inhabituelle et son regard suspicieux nous confirme que l'opération "jumelles" a été couronnée de succès
3. Quivy, Vincent (1 October 2009). Les Soldats perdus. Des anciens de l'OAS racontent: Des anciens de l'OAS racontent (in French). Editions du Seuil. ISBN 978-2-02-100842-5. 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
4. Duchemin, Jacques C. (2006). Histoire du F.L.N. (in French). Éditions Mimouni. ISBN 978-9961-68-104-6. 40.000 hommes sous les ordres des généraux Challe et Faure pour démanteler la W III .
5. Stora, Benjamin (28 October 2010). Le mystère De Gaulle: Son choix pour l'Algérie (in French). Groupe Robert Laffont. ISBN 978-2-221-12250-1.
6. Lentin, Albert-Paul (1 January 1963). L'Algérie entre deux mondes (1): Le dernier quart d'heure (in French). (Julliard) réédition numérique FeniXX. ISBN 978-2-260-04339-3. 50 000 hommes engagés
7. Allès, Jean-François (2000). Commandos de chasse Gendarmerie: Algérie, 1959-1962, récit et témoignages (in French). Atlante. ISBN 978-2-912671-12-7.