Muslim observers saw French lassitude as the source of imminent victory

Evidence

It was a profound and far-sighted analysis. When France, in extremis between 1954 and 1962, was to cast around for interlocuteurs valables, moderate nationalist representatives with whom compromise solutions might be negotiated, among this “human dust” she was to find virtually none. On the other hand, from earliest days the colonial structure had so functioned as to impede and obviate the emergence of any concerted Muslim opposition body, and for long years it succeeded marvellously; yet again, when the ultimate disaster did occur, France would be taken by surprise, because — for the reasons suggested by Cambon — the resistance movements would be “unknown”. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 107 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The February 6 street victory convinced Muslims that French promises were worthless; The February 6 hysteria also dashed the French army’s standing with Muslim Algerians; France’s effective suppression of opposition guaranteed it would later be surprised by resistance. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 107 (+1 more)

Related

• France’s effective suppression of opposition guaranteed it would later be surprised by resistance. (similarity 0.93)
• The February 6 street victory convinced Muslims that French promises were worthless (similarity 0.86)
• The 6 February collapse discredited French promises among Algerian Muslims (similarity 0.85)
• The 1940 defeat fatally undermined French prestige in Algerian Muslim eyes (similarity 0.84)
• Winning militarily while losing politically doomed the French army in Algeria (similarity 0.80)
• France believed wrongly that toppling Nasser would collapse the Algerian revolt. (similarity 0.80)
• Massive French troop increases failed to halt the rebellion’s spread in 1955-56. (similarity 0.79)
• Algerian ultras refused to reckon with metropolitan France’s reaction (similarity 0.79)
• Brutal French reprisals backfired by deepening Algerian hatred of France (similarity 0.79)
• Algerians fighting for France outnumbered those fighting for independence (similarity 0.79)
• Electoral fraud destroyed Muslim trust in French promises of free elections. (similarity 0.79)
• European liberals and Muslim Algerians shared hopes for a negotiated peace before 1956. (similarity 0.78)
• Military victory elevated the army to ultimate political arbiter in Algeria (similarity 0.78)
• Fear of castration conditioned brutal French reprisals against Algerians. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• French military contempt and complacency blinded them to the coming revolt #corroborates (0.70)
• France’s effective suppression of opposition guaranteed it would later be surprised by resistance. #expands (0.60) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 107