Algeria’s top army commander publicly pledged to disobey de Gaulle

Evidence

When asked what the army’s principal concern was, Massu, according to Kempski, replied: “That the government should help us to see the future clearly, in order that we can succeed in maintaining Algérie française.” From there on Massu waxed warmer and warmer in his criticism of de Gaulle: “We no longer understand the policy of President de Gaulle. The army could not have anticipated that he would adopt such a policy…. Our greatest disillusion has been to see General de Gaulle become a man of the Left.” When the German pointed out that “It was, after all, you and your friends who brought him back to power,” Massu replied bitterly: “De Gaulle was the only man available. Perhaps the army made a mistake.” Finally, when asked whether the army would obey, Massu was quoted as declaring: “Myself, and the majority of officers in a position of command, will not execute unconditionally the orders of the Head of State.” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1088

Categorization

• XREF: The army’s conditional loyalty to de Gaulle in Algeria connects forward to the April 1961 generals’ putsch, and backward to how the army brought de Gaulle to power in May 1958. — connects to: Massu publicly declared the army would not obey de Gaulle when still loyal; Salan’s public de Gaulle declaration committed the Algerian army against Paris — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 884; The Algerian army command openly threatened to replace de Gaulle over self-determination. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1104 (+1 more)

Related

• Massu publicly declared the army would not obey de Gaulle when still loyal (similarity 0.95)
• The Algerian army command openly threatened to replace de Gaulle over self-determination. (similarity 0.87)
• De Gaulle publicly promised the army France would stay in Algeria in early 1960. (similarity 0.85)
• Salan’s public de Gaulle declaration committed the Algerian army against Paris (similarity 0.84)
• Dissident colonels threatened to replace de Gaulle with Challe. (similarity 0.83)
• De Gaulle let subordinates voice hard-line positions he would later disavow. (similarity 0.82)
• De Gaulle refused to repudiate the army’s force while denying dictatorial intent (similarity 0.82)
• Challe’s loyalty to the republic collapsed only when de Gaulle shifted toward Algerian self-determination (similarity 0.81)
• De Gaulle symbolically asserted civilian control over the military in Algeria (similarity 0.81)
• De Gaulle took power in June 1958 offering no Algerian solution. (similarity 0.81)
• The army viewed any negotiated ceasefire as toppling its war effort in Algeria (similarity 0.81)
• Army officers saw the Algerian war as both career security and a noble cause. (similarity 0.81)
• Algeria’s military ultimatum pressured a French president into inviting de Gaulle. (similarity 0.80)
• De Gaulle’s intransigent refusal to yield to the riots proved strategically correct (similarity 0.80)
• De Gaulle’s true intentions on Algeria remain a fundamentally contested riddle. (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• The Algerian army command openly threatened to replace de Gaulle over self-determination. #corroborates (0.75) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1104
• De Gaulle publicly promised the army France would stay in Algeria in early 1960. #contradicts (0.70) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1143