Major Combat Operations and Counterinsurgency Warfare: Plan Challe in Algeria, 1959–1960
Résumé
In 1959–60, the French Army in Algeria achieved a major tactical
and operational military success under the command of General
Maurice Challe, in which the French destroyed half of the combat
capability of the Algerian insurgency. Rather than adopting a
population-centric, or “hearts and minds,” approach to COIN, the
French Army created an innovative method for military success
based on the use of major combat operations against the military power of the insurgency. The success of major combat operations in Plan Challe is omitted or dismissed in most of the Algerian WarIn 1959–60, the French Army in Algeria achieved a major tactical and operational military success under the command of General Maurice Challe, in which the French destroyed half of the combat capability of the Algerian insurgency. Rather than adopting a population-centric, or “hearts and minds,” approach to COIN, the French Army created an innovative method for military success
based on the use of major combat operations against the military power of the insurgency. The success of major combat operations
in Plan Challe is omitted or dismissed in most of the Algerian War historiography, which focuses instead on French pacification. An analysis of Plan Challe, however, provides lessons and examples for the conduct of a successful sustained counterguerrilla campaign, a coercive method seldom discussed in current debates over COIN warfare.historiography, which focuses instead on French pacification. An analysis of Plan Challe, however, provides lessons and examples for the conduct of a successful sustained counterguerrilla campaign, a coercive method seldom discussed in current debates over COIN warfare.