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The Groupement de Commandos Mixtes Aéroportés (English: Mixed Airborne Commando Group) commonly referred as just GCMA, was the "Action Service" of the SDECE French counter-intelligence service active during the Cold War. The GCMA's origins lay in the British - U.S - French joint Operation Jedburgh in France in 1944.
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History
GCMA
The GCMA was active in Vietnam (Tonkin) and Laos during the First Indochina War.
GMI
The GCMA name changed in the mid-1950s to be replaced with Groupement Mixte d'Intervention or GMI ("Mixed Intervention Group") as it was no more an airborne unit.
GLI
During the Algerian War that broke out shortly after the end of the Indochina War, the SDECE created in 1955 a new unit inspired by the Vietnamese experience. The GMI became the Groupement Léger d'Intervention or GLI ("Light Intervention Group") involving loyalist Muslims fighting with the French against the FLN rebels.
North Vietnam Commando
The North Vietnam Commandos (Commandos Nord Viêt-Nam) were units very similar to the GCMA. They were created in 1951 and remained in service until 1954. Troops were Vietnamese but the commanding officers were French, most of them were detached from GCMA units.
Operations
Special operations include:
- Operation Toulouse (1953)
- Operation Condor (1954)
Notable commanders
- Roger Trinquier - director
- Paul Aussaresses
- Jean Sassi (1953-1955)
- General Vang Pao GCMA-Laos, ("Meo Maquis") Indochina Wars leader of Hmong people, and later Royal Lao Army Major General
See also
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