1905 - 1979
French air force general and commander in chief of French forces in Algeria, 1958 - 1960.
Born in Le Pontet, Vaucluse, France, Maurice Challe was a Saint-Cyr graduate and, in 1953, was commandant of the École de Guerre Aérienne (School of Air War). In 1956, he assisted in the planning of France's operation to retake the Suez Canal after Egypt's nationalization of it. France's President Charles de Gaulle appointed Challe as commander in chief of the French forces in Algeria in December 1958. Challe responded by initiating highly effective aerial tactics (Challe Plan) against the nationalist Armée de Libération Nationale (National Liberation Army, ALN).
Although reassigned in 1960 to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Challe was deeply affected by his Algerian experience and had become disaffected with de Gaulle's policy of decolonization - especially with the plight of Algerian loyalists (Harkis). In February 1961, he resigned; in April, he and three other generals staged a revolt in Algiers against Paris, which failed to mobilize the anticipated support. Challe gave himself up and was interned until 1966 and then was granted amnesty in 1968. He wrote Notre Révolte (1968), which recollected his Algerian experiences and especially the April 1961 insurrection.
Bibliography
Horne, Alistair. A Savage War of Peace: Algeria, 1954 - 1962, revised edition. New York: Penguin, 1987.
— PHILLIP C. NAYLOR
