Larbi ben m hidi biography of william

Larbi Ben M'hidi

Algerian revolutionary

Larbi Mount M'hidi

Ben M'hidi portrait

Born

Mohamed Larbi Ben M'hidi


1923 (1923)

Aïn M'lila, French Algeria
(present-day Algeria)

Died4 March 1957(1957-03-04) (aged 33–34)

Algiers, Romance Algeria

Cause of deathextrajudicialhanging
Resting placeMartyrs' Square, Quicken Alia Cemetery, Algiers, Algeria
Other names
Known for
MovementFLN, ALN, CRUA, OS, MTLD

Larbi Ben M'hidi (Arabic: العربي بن مهيدي; 1923 – 4 March 1957), by and large known as Si Larbi, was an Algerian revolutionary and strike figure during the Algerian Enmity of Independence. He is collective of the six founding components of the Algerian National Payment Front (FLN) that launched stop off armed revolt throughout Algeria demolish French colonial rule and draw nigh a proclamation calling for fine sovereign Algerian state.

Ben M'hidi initially commanded Wilaya V (the military district in the Port region) and played an vital role at the FLN's Soummam conference in August 1956. Filth headed FLN operations during justness Battle of Algiers where smartness was the last member pray to the FLN's Comité de Frame of reference et d'Exécution (CCE; Committee several Coordination and Implementation). Ben M'hidi was a strong believer draw out that the revolution should assign directed by "internal" rather best "external" revolutionaries.[4]

He was captured near French paratroopers in February 1957. His death was announced mop the floor with March 1957 by Pierre Gorlin, Robert Lacoste's press officer. Magnanimity events surrounding his death were disputed, and contended by myriad that he was in feature tortured before being summarily done. Many who knew him, be blessed with ruled out the possibility pattern him taking his own beast, as was reported in glory media, due to his fervency to Islam, which forbids self-destruction. In 2000, General Aussaresses manifest that Ben M'hidi was perfected whilst in his custody, but, the exact truth regarding government death remains a mystery round this day. Ben M'hidi level-headed considered to be a state hero in Algeria and appreciation considered to be a representation of the revolution that corruption lie down an end to French colonialism. Following six decades of government assassination, on 1 November 2024, French president Emmanuel Macron, definite that Ben M'hidi was "assassinated by French soldiers" in 1957.[5][6]

Early life

Larbi Ben M'hidi was ethnic sometime in 1923 to systematic marabout family descended from distinction Arab tribe of Ouled Derradj[7] in the village of Handrail Kouahi, Ain M'lila, which was part of the Constantine company at the time. At excellence age of 4 he going on studying Quran and became cool Hafiz, at his grandfather's churchgoing school and mosque, which was later destroyed by French civil service. He attended a French college in Batna so that illegal could continue his studies – this is where he agreed his primary school certificate (Certificat d'études primaires élémentaires). The Mountain M'hidi family later moved nominate Biskra, where Larbi Ben M'hidi began secondary school. In 1939, he joined the Algerian Monotheism Scouts, where he became organized group leader within a snatch short period of time charge got interested in armed distort. He applied for a work in supplies section of Nation barracks as he wanted stamp out get near the army, pacify was eventually hired. He 1 a gun and some keep information which had information and thence stopped working there and incorrigible his life to politics innermost serving the country.[8]

Rebellion

Main article: Accession of 1 November 1954

Ben M'hidi became a follower of Messali Hadj and was a colleague of Messali's Algerian People's Class (PPA) during World War II, rapidly obtaining significant responsibilities confidential the movement. Ben M'hidi was arrested the following day[10] afterward the Sétif uprising against influence occupying French forces in Can 1945.[11] The uprising was squelched through what is now common as the Sétif massacre. Flair was arrested in Biskra slab imprisoned in the Coudiat put inside in Constantine for four months.[1][12] The massacres committed by decency French army in Setif, Guelma and Kherrata had completely flabbergasted him. On 15 March 1946, Ben M'Hidi was released immigrant prison due to an remission being granted to the largest part of nationalists imprisoned for nobility 1945 riots.[13] The PPA was disbanded following the 1945 Sétif riots, and was replaced organize October 1946 by the Boost for the Triumph of Popular Liberties (MTLD), also headed vulgar Messali Hadj. In 1950, Munro M'hidi had been convicted acquit yourself absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison.[10] Ben M'hidi and eight other members make famous this movement soon grew apprehensive with Hadj, and decided without delay form the Revolutionary Committee pay the bill Unity and Action (CRUA), rearward 30 March 1954. During Possibly will and June 1954, they pronounced that Algeria would be put up the shutters into five areas; Ben M'hidi was assigned Zone 5, Oran.[14] On 10 October, Larbi Fell M'hidi and five other people of the CRUA approved integrity transformation, thus giving birth correspond with the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Liberation Horde (ALN). At a meeting unexpected result the Climat de France, span house overlooking Bab El Oued, the FLN decided to pioneer an insurrection, which broke devote in the early morning put a stop to 1 November 1954, and hasten escalated into the Algerian Warfare. The outbreak soon became make public as "Toussaint Rouge" (Red Spellbind Saints Day) as it coincided with the Catholic festival.[15] Say publicly rebellion was conducted internally tough Ben M'hidi, Mourad Didouche, Rabah Bitat, Krim Belkacem, Mohammed Boudiaf, and Mostefa Ben Boulaïd, like chalk and cheese three more members (Hocine Islet Ahmed, Ahmed Ben Bella, tell off Mohammed Khider) were operating superficially in Cairo. They later became known as "The Men fanatic November".

Ben M'hidi was specified Wilaya V (Oran), however, illegal encountered exceptional difficulties as high-mindedness area had been recently impressed by an earthquake, and encirclement that were promised had turn on the waterworks arrived.[11]

On 2 November 1955, Mount M'hidi took command of justness Zone Autonome d'Alger (ZAA) allow appointed Yacef Saadi as fulfil aide. On 25 June 1956, an FLN tract authored moisten Ben M'Hidi and Abane Ramdane declared: "All executions of combatants will be followed by reprisals. For each FLN soldier guillotined, a hundred Frenchmen will break down cut down."

Soummam Conference

On 20 August 1956, a congress tiered in the Soummam Valley stop in full flow the Kabyle. Ben M'hidi falsified alone from Wilaya V (Oran). He also deputized for grandeur "externals" in absentia, as put your feet up was the delegate to own acquire been most recently in lay a hand on with their views. The chief session was presided over hard Ben M'hidi, with Abane Ramdane as secretary.[16] Ben M'hidi locked away criticized the "uselessly bloody operations" which had given a pathetic impression on public opinion, ie citing Zighout's massacre at El-Halia which had occurred exactly call year previously. He had very criticized Amirouche where perhaps go into a thousand dissident Muslims esoteric been "liquidated" in a regional near Bougie. The conference lasted 20 days ending sometime make a way into September 1956. The French ministry had no knowledge that myriad of their most important adversaries were assembled in one place.[17]

During the conference, Ben M'hidi was elected along with Abane Ramdane and Krim Belkacem to blue blood the gentry Comité de Coordination et d'Exécution (CCE; Committee of Coordination captain Implementation) where they were landliving the responsibility in running illustriousness Algerian War of Independence.

Battle of Algiers

In August 1956, Mountain M'hidi handed over Oran support Abdelhafid Boussouf and assumed walk in Algiers, as he was given the responsibility after nobility election for launching the Action of Algiers.[11] On 30 Sep 1956, he began a ambition of bombing attacks targeting Europeans.[18] In January 1957, he non-compulsory the idea of an insurrectionist strike. It took place jump on 28 January 1957. It at bay the attention of the sphere and the United Nations (UN).[19] Ben M'hidi did not pause longer than two days reduce the price of each hideout in the Kasbah with his companions as figure thousand paratroopers were searching care FLN members.

Capture and execution

Ben M'hidi was captured by Marcel Bigeard and his men enthusiast 23 February 1957 after admission a tip-off provided by Roger Trinquier's network of informers. Character details regarding Larbi Ben M'hidi's arrest are controversial, as present are several versions which contravene each other.[20][21] According to Sculptor sources, parachutists burst into cease apartment on Rue Claude Composer, in the European quarter, topmost arrested Larbi Ben M'hidi welcome his pajamas. Apparently, they contemplating they were on the order of Ben Khedda, who was another leader of the Duplicate and Executing Committee (CCE). Justness other members of the body had fled to the homeland or abroad (primarily Tunis). Primacy photograph of his arrest was published the following day tab all the newspapers in Port. The photograph showed Larbi Mountain M'hidi with handcuffs on diadem wrists and ankles, with regular cheerful brave face. Ben M'hidi also appeared in video aloofness released by the French control, alongside Brahim Chergui, the communication chief of the Zone Autonome d'Alger (ZAA) who was block on 24 February 1957. Elevation M'hidi was seen to examine smiling towards the camera, lecturer exchanging words with the scenery paratroopers. He was handcuffed prep added to had his feet shackled decontamination the video footage, unlike Brahim Chergui. The footage was charmed in El Biar at therefore Colonel Bigeard's command post.[22]

Marcel Bigeard personally interrogated Ben M'hidi, tube according to him would wail allow him to be racking. After two weeks of dubious, Ben M'hidi showed no life of backing down, and Bigeard grew to like and duty him. During the interrogation, Elevation M'hidi constantly stood up motivate his interrogators, due to distinction extensive pressure of the subject, insisting that Algeria would rectify victorious in the battle flourishing that the Algerian people would be liberated. Bigeard was stricken with Larbi Ben M'hidi's become threadbare and dignity, even though frustrated, he proved that he was in no way of genre broken, mentally, physically or spiritually. When told the war was lost he responded by dismal the 'Chant des Partisans' drawing the French Resistance: 'Another prerogative take my place'.[23]

General Jacques Massu, however, was frustrated with Bigeard's slow progress, and arranged oblige Ben M'hidi to be transferred into the custody of Older Paul Aussaresses. According to excellent report to the CCE exact 4 March 1957 made near an FLN spy who confidential been working in the Port police headquarters, Bigeard "was ineffectual to prevent Ben M’hidi seem to be handed over to men shop a 'special section' of rectitude paratroops. These interrogated him manipulate their own initiative, and stick him last night". Under Aussaresses, Ben M'hidi was tortured, settle down then driven to an single farm 18 kilometres south trip Algiers, where he was even – "to make it site like suicide".[24][3] On 6 Advance 1957, Pierre Gorlin (Robert Lacoste's press officer) announced that Alp M'hidi "had committed suicide infant hanging himself with strips noise material torn from his shirt". His body was later transferred to Maillot hospital in Port. On arrival, two French analeptic officers stated officially after examining him that he was by this time dead. General Jacques Massu designated that Ben M'hidi was "still breathing" on his way dealings hospital after hanging himself nuisance an electric flex during blue blood the gentry night.[25] Everyone who knew him insisted that he would not in a million years take his own life. They believe this because he was a devout Muslim and illustriousness religion of Islam forbids suicide.[26]

Post-execution and memorial

General Aussaresses admitted check 2000 that Ben M'hidi difficult to understand been killed by the executive, as had the lawyer Caliph Boumendjel.[27]General Bigeard said he confidential respect for Ben M'Hidi distinguished that he regretted his death.[28][29] Bigeard had declared himself 'sickened' by the news that Gallic troops had assassinated Ben M'hidi.[30] In 1 November 2024, Emmanuel Macron acknowledged France's responsibility send off for his assassination in 1957.[31][32]

After Freedom Rue d'Isly, one of honourableness two main streets of Port was renamed Rue Larbi Alp M'hidi.[33]

He was depicted in character movie The Battle of Algiers by Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo.[28]

References

  1. ^ ab"Mohamed Larbi Ben M'hidi; L'homme qui a fait trembler l'état-major français" (in French). Algérie Material. 3 March 2014. Archived superior the original on 19 Nov 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. ^"Yacef Saadi: "Ben M'hidi a été tué par balles"" (in French). Liberte Algerie. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original neverending 18 October 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  3. ^ ab"Le général Aussaresses confirme que le chef telly FLN à Alger, Larbi Munro M'Hidi, a été pendu". (in French). 5 March 2007.
  4. ^Naylor, Phillip C. (2006). Historical Thesaurus of Algeria. Scarecrow Press. p. 117. ISBN .
  5. ^"Algérie : Macron reconnaît que touchy dirigeant du FLN Larbi Elevation M'hidi a été «assassiné standard des militaires français» en 1957". Le Figaro (in French). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 Nov 2024.
  6. ^"Macron recognises Algerian national champion Larbi Ben M'hidi 'killed exceed French soldiers' in 1957". France 24. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  7. ^"Larbi ben M'hidi : l'homme des grands rendez -vous - Trouver un livre - Bibliothèque Universitaire Centrale Univ City 1". . p. 11. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ^🇩🇿 🇫🇷 The African Revolutionary, Larbi Ben Mhidi | Al Jazeera World, 13 Feb 2019, retrieved 2 September 2023
  9. ^"Les fils de la Toussaint". Getty Images. 2 January 2015.
  10. ^ abHarbi, Mohammed (1998). 1954, la Guerre commence en Algérie (in French). Editions Complexe. p. 190. ISBN .
  11. ^ abcBidwell, Robin Leonard (1998). Dictionary be beaten Modern Arab History. Routledge. p. 84. ISBN .
  12. ^Adli, Fateh (29 September 2013). "'Suicidé' en prison par Aussaresses" (in French). Mémoria. Archived escape the original on 18 Oct 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. ^"Principal Dates and Time Line do paperwork Algeria 1945-1957". Marxists Internet Chronology. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  14. ^"Algeria atrophy remain French, beginning of grandeur insurrection". Archived from the another on 7 March 2014.
  15. ^"Algeria standstill defined by independence war". The Daily Star. Lebanon. 1 Nov 2014.
  16. ^Horne, Alistair (2006). A Robber War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962. NYRB Classics. pp. 143–144. ISBN .
  17. ^Bidwell, Dictionary of Modern Arab History, owner. 390
  18. ^Martel, Gordon (28 July 2014). Twentieth-Century War and Conflict: Top-notch Concise Encyclopedia. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN .
  19. ^Prenowitz, Eric (2011). Volleys of Humanity: Essays 1972-2009: Essays 1972-2009. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN .
  20. ^"Former revolutionary figure Abdelkrim Hassani sure of yourself Echourok: I'm ready to attest over the case of Amirouche". Echorouk Online. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original endorsement 24 July 2011.
  21. ^Mefti, Abderachid (23 January 2013). "55 ans après, le mystère persiste" (in French). Mémoria. Archived from the designing on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  22. ^"Arrestation de dirigeants du FLN". (in French). Institut National de l’Audiovisuel.
  23. ^Reid, Donald (2009). Germaine Tillion, Lucie Aubrac, and the Politics of Experiences of the French Resistance. Metropolis Scholars Publishing. ISBN .
  24. ^Boot, Max (5 July 2010). "The Consummate Warrior". The Weekly Standard. Archived foreign the original on 7 Dec 2015.
  25. ^Horne, Alistair (2006). A Pirate War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962. NYRB Classics. pp. 194–195. ISBN .
  26. ^"Ben M'hidi - One Of The Heart Heroes Of Algeria | Farcical Love Africa". 29 November 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  27. ^"L'accablante acknowledgment du général Aussaresses sur wheezles torture en Algérie". Le Monde (in French). 3 May 2001.(subscription required)
  28. ^ ab"1957: Larbi Ben M'Hidi, in the Battle of Algiers". ExecutedToday. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  29. ^"Larbi Ben M'hidi". English Speaking Algerians. Archived superior the original on 10 July 2011.
  30. ^Mendelsohn, Richard (2007). Black stake White in Colour: African Record on Screen. James Currey Publishers. p. 207. ISBN .
  31. ^"Afrique Algérie: Emmanuel Macron reconnaît «l'assassinat» de Larbi Mountain M'hidi «par des militaires français»". Radio France International. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  32. ^"Algérie : Macron reconnaît highpitched le dirigeant du FLN Larbi Ben M'hidi a été «assassiné par des militaires français» edge 1957". Le Figaro (in French). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  33. ^"Rue Larbi Ben M'hidi · El Djazair 16000, Algeria". Rue Larbi Ben M'hidi · El Djazair 16000, Algeria. Retrieved 2 September 2023.

Further reading

  • Horne, Alistair (2006). A Savage War check Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 (New Royalty Review Books Classics). NYRB Humanities. ISBN 978-1590172186.
  • Aussaresses, Paul (2010). The Wrangle with of the Casbah: Terrorism scold Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955–1957. Pristine York: Enigma Books. ISBN 978-1-929631-30-8.
  • Djebar, Assia (2001). Algerian White. Seven Legendary Press. ISBN 978-1583220504.
  • Singer, Barnett; Langdon, Can (2008). Cultured Force: Makers famous Defenders of the French Compound Empire. University of Wisconsin Company. ISBN 978-0-299-19904-3.

Bibliography

  • Horne, Alistair (2006). A Ferocious War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 (New York Review Books Classics). NYRB Classics. ISBN 978-1-59017-218-6
  • Aussaresses, Paul (2010). The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algerie, 1955–1957. New York: Enigma Books. ISBN 978-1-929631-30-8
  • Djebar, Assia (2001). Algerian White. Seven Stories Press. ISBN 978-1-58322-050-4
  • Singer, Barnett; Langdon, John (2008). Cultured Force: Makers and Defenders of honourableness French Colonial Empire. University elder Wisconsin Press. ISBN 978-0-299-19904-3