Low-ranking captains wielded vast military and civil authority by May 1958.

Evidence

That mere captains, like Hentic, should come to acquire quite vast powers, both in military and civil operations, had—by May 1958—become in itself a commonplace and significant feature. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 832

Categorization

• QUESTION: How did the rank structure so invert that captains held vast powers — worth tracing how this normalization happened.