Raoul Salan

Raoul Salan , born the June 10th 1899 with Roquecourbe (Tarn), dead the July 3rd 1984 with Paris, is a Général French. He was one of the organizers of the Putsch of the generals in 1961 and the chief of the secret armed Organization, an organization which fought against Algerian independence and was condemned to the prison with perpetuity, then amnestied and rehabilitated.

The essence of the military career of Raoul Salan proceeded in old the colonial Empire French. After having occupied various stations in Indo-China between 1924 and 1937, he becomes chief of the information to the ministry for the colonies. In 1942-43, he exerts responsibilities in relation to free France, in particular in Africa. He takes part in the battle of Alsace and the release of Toulon. Since 1948, it turns over to Indo-China where he becomes commander-in-chief in January 1952, after the death of the Maréchal of Lattre de Tassigny. February 1st 1956 it is named with the head of the 10th French military region: Algeria.

First World War

It engages for the duration of the war on August 2nd, 1917, is allowed with military special École of Saint-Cyr military school on August 21st, 1917. It leaves Aspirant there on July 25th, 1918, is affected with the 5 {{E}} Régiment of colonial infantry (RIC) with Lyon on August 14th, 1918.

Section head to the 11th company, it takes part in the engagements in the area of Verdun (Saint-Mihiel, Éparges, Wood-Bourru, Côte of the Goose, Cumières-the-Death-Man). He is quoted with the order of the brigade by the order dated December 29th, 1918.

Inter-war period (1919-1939)

He is affected with the occupying army in Germany until May 1919, then he turns over to the military special École of Saint-Cyr military school on May 7th, 1919. He is named second lieutenant on a purely the final on September 21st, 1919 and affected basis with the Régiment of Colonial Infantry of Morocco (current Régiment of infantry of tanks of navy), with Landau, in Germany, on December 3rd, 1919.

On its request, it is sent to the Raising with the 17 {{E}} Régiment of Senegalese Riflemen (RTS), as a chief of station with Radjou, in Syria on the border with Turkey. It is promoted lieutenant on September 11th, 1921, seriously wounded with the combat of Accham on October 24th, 1921.

It is again quoted, with the order of the army and is named knight of the Légion of honor, it is decorated on its bed with hospital, with Alep, by the general Gouraud, High-Commissioner with Raising.

It is the subject of a medical repatriation on January 25th, 1922, is neat with the Hôpital Holy-Anne in Toulon, then with the Valley-of-Grace to Paris, is affected during its convalescence with the 23 {{E}} RIC in Paris and indicated on its request for the Indo-China on January 2nd, 1924.

It is then affected with the 3 {{E}} Régiment of Riflemen Tonkinois like assistant of the chief of station of Nguyen-Binh (Tonkin) which it joined on April 15th, 1924. Detached out-tallies on December 14th, 1924, it is administrative delegate of the Commissioner the government chief of the province of the High-Mekong, with Muong-Sing, the borders of the China, the Burma and the Siam, from April 15th, 1925 to May 26th, 1928. After a return in metropolis from July 6th, 1928 to August 2nd, 1929, it ensures, in position out-tallies, the interim of the Government Commissioner, Lapeyronie, for the province of High-Mekong, with Houei Sai. It is promoted captain on March 25th, 1930 and turns over to Muong-Sing in March 1931, writes a “Handbook of reading of the language “Lu” and “Youne” with corresponding translation in Laotian language”. It leaves Indo-China for the metropolis on April 28th, 1933.

It takes the command of the THIS on February 1st, 1933 and takes part with this unit in operations in Larzac in spring 1934, then is returned to Indo-China on October 6th, 1934, where it takes the command of the 6th company of the 19 {{E}} Mixed Régiment of Colonial Infantry while taking up the duties of administrative delegate of Dinh-Lap in Tonkin.

With his Victor son, old five years, it returns on April 8th, 1937 in metropolis, on board Chenonceaux; it become acquainted with his future wife there, Lucienne Bouguin.Il is detached with the ministry for the Colonies on September 1st, 1937, like assistant of the chief of the 2nd office (information), is promoted with the rank of major on March 22nd, 1938, becomes chief of the Intercolonial Intelligence service and is in daily relation with Georges Mandel, Minister for the Colonies as from April 1938.

It leads to the autumn 1939, after the declaration of war of France in Germany, a secret mission with the Cairo and Khartoum of assistance to resistance abyssine against the occupation of the Ethiopia by the troops Italy.

Second world war (1939-1945)

- Cost in Paris on November 19th, 1939

- In January 1940, takes the head of a battalion of the 44 {{E}} Régiment of Colonial Infantry Mixed Senegalese.

- On June 5th, 1940, is, with its battalion, in first line on the Sum when the Germans start their offensive after the surrounding and the defeat of the French and British forces in the pocket of Dunkirk

- Folds up itself on order with the remainders of its battalion by carrying out delaying actions on the Seine then on the Loire

- City twice with the order of the regiment by orders of the July 12th and 13rd 1940

- City with the order of the army and promoted Officer of the Legion of Honor on August 21st, 1940

- Detached with the general staff of the Colonies, the Secretariat of State to the Colonies with Vichy, on July 16th, 1940

- Promoted lieutenant-colonel on June 25th, 1941

- Indicated to serve in French Western Africa (AOF) on September 24th, 1941

- Joined Dakar on March 8th, 1942 after having become acquainted with the town of Algiers, is affected there as chief of the 2nd office (information) to the staff of the general Barrau, commander higher in AOF.

- In its company, carries out a round of Senegal, French Sudan and of Guinea

- Writes with its team and that of the 3rd office a “Instruction on the control of the war on the backs of the enemy” diffused until the level of the company

- Promoted colonel on June 25th, 1943

- Indicated to continue its services in North Africa, arrives at Algiers on August 31st, 1943, is affected at the 2nd office of the staff of the Army, in charge with the psychological action and the direction of the newspaper Combattant 43 of which one of the collaborators is the painter André Hamburg

- Evincé of its station by Andre To exchange It, police chief with the War and the Air, to have refused to publish the report of a conference of this one blaming the honor of the executives of the army of 1939-1940, is placed at the disposal of the 9 {{E}} Division of Colonial Infantry (DIC) under the orders of the general Magnan on May 4th, 1944

- Takes the command of the 6 {{E}} Régiment of Senegalese Riflemen (RTS), in Corsica, on May 30th, 1944

- Meeting for the first time at Bastia, on June 16th, 1944, the General of Lattre de Tassigny which required to see the 6th RTS and its colonel

- Unloads with its regiment on August 19th, 1944 in the morning on the beach of Nartelle in the VAr

- Reached Toulon on August 26th, 1944, after six days of intense combat on the axis Solliès-Pont, Farlède, Valetta and Toulon; the 6th RTS deplores 587 killed, wounded and disappeared A mention in dispatches pays homage to these actions

- Toulon Leaves on September 9th with its regiment reconstituted by incorporation of elements of the French Forces of Interior (FFI) which “bleach” the regiment gradually

- By note of October 13rd, 1944, the 6th RTS becomes the 6 {{E}} Régiment of Colonial Infantry (RIC)

- On November 14th, 1944, the 6th RIC dismantles German resistance in the pocket of Doubs

- On November 23rd, the regiment is in Blotzheim, in the south of Haut-Rhin, whereas the Germans hold of solids heads of bridge on French bank of the Rhine; thereafter, it releases Village-Nine, Huningue, Loechle and the hydro-electric factory of Kembs

- Called with the command of the infantry of the 9 {{E}} DIC, Raoul Salan is promoted brigadier general on December 25th, 1944. It is 45 years old.

- Participle with the reduction of the pocket of Colmar at the end of January and at the beginning of February 1945

- Is quoted with the order of the Army and is promoted commander of the Legion of honor; the tie to him is given on February 10th, 1945 in Mulhouse by the Général de Gaulle: “Then does Salan, that go? ”; it is its first direct contact with the chief of the Provisional government of the French Republic

- On February 20th, 1945, takes the command of the 14 {{E}} Division of Infantry, the old division of the general of Lattre reconstituted starting from units resulting from the FFI and of ftp (Francs Gunners and Partisans), of which the Brigade Alsace-Lorraine with the orders of André Malraux

- The war Finishes on the European face close to Donaueschingen in the Black Forest

- Is quoted twice with the order of the Army, the April 29th and December 2nd, 1945 for its action with the head of the 6 {{E}} IH. and with the head of the infantry of the 9th DIC.

War of Indo-China

With died of the marshal of Lattre de Tassigny the January 11th 1952, he becomes commander-in-chief in Indo-China. The Vietnamese soldier Minh not managing to attack the Tonkin, it defers its offensives towards the Laos. Salan then gains the Bataille of Na San in December 1952. This defeat Viet Minh is regarded as the lesson which leads the general Giap to gain the Bataille of Diên Biên Phu. Free Salan this command the May 28th 1953 to return in France. 15 with the May 25th 1954, after the fall of Diên Biên Phu, it will belong to the mission of information in Indo-China directed by the general Ely.

War of Algeria

The January 16th 1957 an attack with the Bazooka is made against Raoul Salan, then ordering 10 {{E}} military region, commander interarmées with Algiers; it costs the life to colonel Rodier. The authors of the attack were Philippe Castille and Michel Fechoz; the silent partner, Rene Kovacs, an of Algiers doctor militant for the French Algeria, wanted to replace Salan by the general Rene Cogny, famous more energetic. Kovacs blamed of the personalities of which Michel Debré, but without bringing evidence. The investigation never succeeds.

At the time of the Crisis of May 1958, its rallying impromptu with the general de Gaulle at the time of a speech in Algiers places this last in strong position. However, in favor of French Algeria, after the failure of the putsch of the generals in 1961, it directs OAS. It is stopped in Algiers Friday April 20th 1962 after one year of clandestinity and the May 23rd 1962, after having asserted its responsibilities with the head for the OAS, is condemned by the High military Tribunal to the sorrow of criminal detention to life, verdict which will involve the dissolution of the court by the general de Gaulle the May 27th 1962, whereas the Général Jouhaud had been condemned to died by the same court the previous on April 13rd. The December 8th 1962, is transferred at the same time as the Jouhaud general to the prison from Tulle where are imprisoned the general and higher officers implied in the engagements for French Algeria

The June 15th 1968, last occupying of the prison of Tulle, it is released by presidential pardon following the events of May 1968.

Arrest of Salan

Conscious that the part, on the ground, was played, refusing to flee with the Portugal, as it was advised to him, Salan will say that its departure of Algeria would carry to Europeans of Algeria a blow which they would not be concerned any more. There remained to him a last chart to be played, in order to reverse the balance of the forces, an alliance with the rival and enemy of the F.L.N, i.e. the Algerian National movement (MNA) directed by Messali Hadj.

The OAS wants to maintain the authority of the French. The messalists claim independence under certain conditions, dictated by them, but admit the possibility with Europeans of remaining on the territory and to take part in the development of the Algerian economy, but, which is important, it is that the two faces fear the FLN for its intransigence.

Messali Hadj refuses any contact with the party which it calls " Fasciste" organization;. Then, discouraged Salan addresses a letter to a group of dissenting messalists, FAAD (Algerian Face of democratic action).

Friday April 20th Salan goes down from its apartment located on the fifth floor and goes to its office which is at the ground floor of the same building, i.e. to the 25 rue Desfontaines where it had appointment with Jacques Achard, alias Alpha, chief of the OAS of the sector Orleans-Navy, itself charged to meet the FAAD.

Peugeot black goes up the Saint-Saëns boulevard, turns in the street Desfontaines and stops. The bodyguards of Salan wait in one 403 gray in this same street, see a vehicle in the rear view mirror, but think that it is about the Commando Delta. The district is encircled, Lavansseau (infiltrated agent) striking with the door of the office. Salan, Jean Ferrandi and a third nobody are inside. Lavansseau requires where the toilets are, and at the same time somebody sounds. Ferrandi observes by Judas, and shouts “We are made”. Salan was taken with the trap, and before its bodyguards cannot react, posted in front of the building, the police officers give an opinion quickly by posting armored vehicles. The chief of the OAS indeed fell into a trap….

One hour later, Algiers learns by an official statement from the general delegation, that Salan was stopped at the time of banal and routine search for clandestine transmitter.

We know now that the secret services have, during more than one year, prudently prepared work of approach and infiltrated at the level highest of the OAS, agents as Lavansseau (thirteen attempts at arrest had been unfruitful before).

The Inhabitants of Algiers refused to accept this news, little by little the stores of the city close themselves, Radio-pirate OAS will confirm little time after the news in these terms: Salan remains the heart and the spirit of French resistance. The fight continues.

- Guards of return to Affreville will be devoted to the realization of this objective, but as the dissenting messalists claimed four hundred rifles and than the OAS refused, the project fell through.

End of its life

  • Of 1970 to 1974, publishes its memories covering the period 1918-1960 pennies the title: “Fine of an Empire”
  • In 1975, publishes “Indo-China Rouge, the message of Ho Chi Minh”
  • In 1982, following the amnesty voted by the Parliament, is reinstated in its prerogatives of general and of Grand Cross of the Legion of honor
  • Malade since May 10th, 1984, it dies out on July 3rd, 1984 at the hospital of instruction of the armies of the Valley-of-Grace. It rests with the cemetery of Vichy.

Complement

Anecdote to be checked. With the question which De Gaulle would have asked him: " Then, Salan always also idiot? " , he would have answered: " Always gaullist, my general… " The March 4th 2001, the town of Toulon, then directed by a mayor resulting from the National front baptized a crossroads of the name of the general Raoul Salan, liberator of the city in 1944.

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Association of the Friends of Raoul Salan

  • Raoul Salan, a colonial general by Madeleine Rebérioux

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