F.L.N. propaganda triggered mutinies within veteran Algerian army units.

Evidence

Of growing concern to the French was the effect that the more sophisticated propaganda of the F.L.N. under Abane was having on the reliability of veteran Algerian units within the army. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 427 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

In his novel The Centurions Jean Lartéguy relates how, on killing a fellagha leader, Si Lahcen, French paras found in his pockets a médaille militaire and a mention in despatches from Indo-China. “There’s something wrong about this war,” one para officer remarks to another. There was indeed. At night on 9 February 1956 a platoon of the 46th Tirailleurs stationed near Tlemcen was called out on an alarm — to be mown down by one of their own number, a caporal-chef, who wounded six soldiers before running off with the attackers. Worse followed ten days later when fifty men of the 50th Tirailleurs defected under another caporal-chef, a returned veteran from Indo-China, in similar circumstances. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 427 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Sakiet’s fallout made the Algerian army feel betrayed by Paris.; F.L.N. propaganda caused mass defections within French-native army units; F.L.N. propaganda undermined the loyalty of Algerian army units. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 427 (+2 more)

Related

• F.L.N. propaganda caused mass defections within French-native army units (similarity 0.93)
• F.L.N. propaganda undermined the loyalty of Algerian army units. (similarity 0.93)
• Veteran Algerian soldiers from Indo-China defected en masse to the F.L.N. (similarity 0.91)
• F.L.N. propaganda won by telling more truth than the French did (similarity 0.82)
• Sakiet’s fallout made the Algerian army feel betrayed by Paris. (similarity 0.82)
• French military pressure by 1958 drove A.L.N. morale collapse and mass defection (similarity 0.79)
• French punitive failures drove uncommitted Auresians to join the F.L.N. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• F.L.N. propaganda undermined the loyalty of Algerian army units. #corroborates (0.85) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 427
• F.L.N. propaganda won by telling more truth than the French did #corroborates (0.50)
• Veteran Algerian soldiers from Indo-China defected en masse to the F.L.N. #qualifies (0.45) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 427