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Paul Aussaresses

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Algerians, as well, were not interested in political problems. They only wanted to be able to go out on the streets and live in peace. I, who judge no one 
 often ask, considering what happens in a city today — with those blind attacks which decimate the innocent — why someone does not understand within a few weeks that the high authorities must utilize all means in order to put an end to the terror?...I am a patriot. I take full responsibility for my actions. I do not seek to justify my actions but simply try to explain that from the moment when a nation demands of its army to fight an enemy that terrorizes the population and forces it into submission, it is impossible for the army not to resort to extreme means....In the interest of my country I had clandestinely carried out operations unacceptable to the ordinary moral standards, had often circumvented the law: stolen, assassinated, vandalized, and terrorized. I had learned how to pick locks, kill without leaving traces, lie, be indifferent to my suffering and to that of others, had forgotten and made others forget. All for France.
380:(Algerian National Liberation Front) staged an attack against the police of Philippeville. Aussaresses states that he had information about this attack well beforehand and was therefore able to prevent much bloodshed. The members of the FLN had forced many of the men, women and children of the countryside to march in front of them, without weapons, as human shields. Aussaresses reports that his battalion killed 134 of these men, women and children, and that hundreds more had been wounded. He reports that two men from his own side also died, and that around one hundred others had been wounded. (Aussaresses, p. 41) 518:. He suggested that torture was a small but necessary evil that had to be used to defeat a much larger evil of terrorism. Aussaresses also claimed that he used these methods because it was a quick way to obtain information. He also defended its use by saying that the legal system was meant to deal with a peacetime France, not a counter insurgency war that the French army was faced with in Algeria. In 2001, Aussaresses during an interview stated: 100: 42: 642:. U.S. Army Colonel Carl Bernard later recalled that "starting with that book Project Phoenix was conceived". However, Robert L. Miller, in a foreword to Aussaresses' later book, has stated that American officers actually rejected Aussaresses' instructions that torture and summary execution were useful in defeating insurgencies. 571:(LDH, Human Rights League) filed a complaint against him for "apology of war crimes," as Paul Aussaresses justified the use of torture, claiming it had saved lives following the Necessity Defense and/or the Self-Defense (although he did not explicitly use this expression). He was condemned to a 7,500 Euros fine by the 607:
militant group to continue the fight in Algeria after the French military began to withdraw their forces. In 1961 he was appointed as a military attaché of the French diplomatic mission in the USA, along with ten veterans of the Algerian War formerly under his charge. In the USA, he also served at
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The FLN were involved in a savage terrorist movement. My role in Algeria was a struggle against unbridled terrorism — blind attacks against the innocent. The conflict was not Algerians vs. French. The fight was not a political one nor was it an ideological one. That holds no interest for me. Most
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French: « Quant Ă  l'utilisation de la torture, elle Ă©tait tolĂ©rĂ©e, sinon recommandĂ©e. François Mitterrand, le ministre de la justice, avait, de fait, un Ă©missaire auprĂšs de Massu en la personne du juge Jean BĂ©rard qui nous couvrait et qui avait une exacte connaissance de ce qui passait la
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and member of Team CHRYSLER which parachuted into France behind the German lines in August 1944. The Jedburghs worked clandestinely behind enemy lines to harness the local resistance and coordinate their activities with the wishes of the Allied Commanders. CHRYSLER deployed from Algeria via an
270:. A 2003 documentary revealed that, after moving to Brazil in 1973, Aussaresses had advised South American dictators on the use of torture widely used against leftist opponents to the military regimes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Aussaresses also admitted to advising the 661:, Chilean officers trained in Brazil under Aussaresses' orders and advised the South American juntas on counter-insurrection warfare and the use of torture that was widely used against leftist opponents to the military regimes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. 595:" does not lead to "accompany the exposure of facts ... with commentaries justifying acts contrary to human dignity and universally reproved," "nor to glorify its author." Aussaresses had written in his book: "torture became necessary when emergency imposed itself." 494:
has always claimed that it was not, but Aussaresses argues that the government insisted upon the harsh measures he took against Algerians - measures which included summary executions of many people, hours of torture of prisoners, and violent strike-breaking.
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using repressive measures. Soldiers forcibly dragged all public utilities workers to their jobs. Store fronts were torn open so that the owners had to open the store for fear of being looted. Later in 1957, he ordered his men to hang
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to be part of the 41st Parachute Demi-Brigade as an intelligence officer. He restarted his demi-brigade's intelligence unit, which had been disbanded during peacetime but was deemed necessary by the
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novel Powderhouse shares the same biography as Aussaresses; he is described as having served in Algiers and later teaching his methods to South American death squads.
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department, in Languedoc. His father, Paul Aussaresses senior, was serving in the French military at the time of his son's birth because of the war.
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rejected the intercession in December 2004. The Court of Cassation declared in its judgment that "freedom to inform, which is the basis of
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Following Aussaresses' revelations, which suggested that torture had been ordered by the highest levels of the French state hierarchy,
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unit that was part of France's former external intelligence agency, the External Documentation and Counter-Espionage Service, the
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membership, was inspired by these American students of Aussaresses, after they had sent a copy of Trinquier's book to CIA agent
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Aussaresses had a successful military career after the war. Unlike many of his fellow officers, he did not choose to join the
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was according to Larteguy not based on anyone, but many believe that he was at least partially inspired by Aussaresses and
572: 440:. Aussaresses reported for duty in Algiers on 8 January 1957. He was the main executioner and intelligence collector under 1192: 457:, an important member of the FLN, as if he had committed suicide. In a separate incident he ordered that an officer throw 412:. On 1 June 1956 he received a spinal fracture from a parachuting exercise, which prevented him from participating in the 339: 220: 143: 449: 433: 377: 671: 465:
attorney, from the 6th floor of the building he was held prisoner in, claiming that Boumendjel had committed suicide.
980: 650: 1222: 1162: 604: 478: 245: 147: 1187: 902: 875: 634:, which utilized torture (including electric torture, simulated drowning, and rape) against those suspected of 568: 266:. In the aftermath of the controversy, he was stripped of his rank, the right to wear his army uniform and his 1207: 515: 1197: 204:. His actions during the Algerian War—and later defense of those actions—caused considerable controversy. 588: 17: 972: 609: 1123: 800: 1202: 627:'s book on "subversive warfare" (Aussaresses had served under Trinquier in Algeria). The Americans' 1167: 514:
Aussaresses justified the use of torture by saying how shocked he was by the FLN's massacre at the
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Subsequently, historians debated whether or not this repression was government-backed or not. The
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decreed that both deaths were suicides, but Aussaresses admitted both assassinations in 2000.
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La condamnation du général Aussaresses pour apologie de la torture est maintenant définitive
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Aussaresses provoked controversy in 2000 when, in an interview with the French newspaper
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Human Rights Watch : le gouvernement français doit ordonner une enquĂȘte officielle.
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insisted that the military in Algeria "liquidate the FLN as quickly as possible".
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Aussaresses, recognizable by his eye patch, lost his left eye due to a botched
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Insurgencies and Counterinsurgencies: National Styles and Strategic Cultures
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and commanded the battalion from 1947 until 1948, when he was replaced by
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Aussaresses was born on 7 November 1918, just four days before the end of
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L'accablante confession du général Aussaresses sur la torture en Algérie
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in May 1956 to continue exercises with paratroopers on their way to the
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condamnation du général Aussaresses pour "apologie de crimes de guerre"
801:"Torture to Prevent Terrorism? Interview with a French Master Torturer" 560: 409: 254: 1124:
Torture to Prevent Terrorism? Interview with a French Master Torturer
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Concerning the use of torture, it was tolerated, if not recommended.
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French war crimes apologist from the Algerian independence war dies
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In the spring of 1956, he attended a top-secret training camp in
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According to Aussauresses, he specifically taught lessons from
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In 1941, Aussaresses served a year as an officer cadet in
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An inmate in the asylum for 'noble executioners' in the
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French military personnel of the First Indochina War
669:The character of Julien Boisfeuras in the novels 616:, a military unit that specialized in tactics of 498:Aussaresses was quite candid in his interview in 293: 1139: 1072:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ( 419: 738:, by Thomas Adamson (Associated Press); in the 248:. He repeated the defense in an interview with 1055:. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008 1178:French military personnel of the Algerian War 483:Aussaresses contends, in his book, that the 396:for a one-month training to prepare for the 233:Direction GĂ©nĂ©rale de la SĂ©curitĂ© ExtĂ©rieure 878:(LDH, Human Rights League), February 2002. 857: 185:; 7 November 1918 – 3 December 2013) was a 473:Status of torture in the French government 350:with the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment. 40: 330:American aircraft to work with the local 1107:A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962 1032:Escadrons de la mort - l'Ă©cole française 1012:Escadrons de la mort - l'Ă©cole française 951:Escadrons de la mort - l'Ă©cole française 931:Escadrons de la mort - l'Ă©cole française 829:Escadrons de la mort - l'Ă©cole française 539:), the term being created at this time. 219:. In 1947 he was given command of the 14: 1140: 966: 244:, he admitted and defended the use of 1173:French Army personnel of World War II 915: 798: 754: 752: 383: 180: 573:Tribunal de grande instance de Paris 338:. On 1 September 1946 he joined the 24: 905:, December 11, 2004 (mirroring an 838: 749: 664: 25: 1239: 1228:War criminals of the Algerian War 1218:People convicted of speech crimes 1117: 935:See here, starting at 18min-19min 502:forty years later (May 3, 2001): 1078:. Retrieved on 11 February 2008. 598: 353: 98: 1099:. New York, Enigma Books, 2010. 1085: 1041: 1021: 1001: 989: 960: 940: 885: 799:Brass, Martin (November 2001). 479:Torture during the Algerian War 274:for the Americans' Vietnam era 246:torture during the Algerian war 1213:Operatives of Operation Condor 817: 792: 782: 773: 729: 704: 364:In 1955 he was transferred to 294:Early life and military career 13: 1: 1158:People from Tarn (department) 955:See here, starting at 21min30 697: 657:, former head of the Chilean 420:Working with Massu in Algiers 1036:See here, starting at 27 min 1016:See here, starting at 24 min 833:See here, starting at 8min38 823:Interview of Aussaresses by 567:, may not be amnestied. The 559:) to indict Aussaresses for 288: 7: 1091:Aussaresses, General Paul. 876:Ligue des droits de l'homme 569:Ligue des droits de l'homme 551:sent a letter to President 10: 1244: 973:Cambridge University Press 610:Fort Bragg, North Carolina 476: 357: 346:. Later, he served in the 967:Heuser, Beatrice (2016). 614:10th Special Forces Group 153: 139: 129: 121: 109: 94: 74: 51: 39: 32: 1193:French military attachĂ©s 542: 264:The Battle of the Casbah 46:GĂ©nĂ©ral Paul Aussaresses 1223:Politicide perpetrators 645:Aussaresses located to 565:crimes against humanity 360:Battle of Philippeville 207:Aussaresses joined the 1163:French anti-communists 618:unconventional warfare 525: 512: 304:Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux 85:Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines 65:Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux 1188:French mass murderers 651:military dictatorship 612:, USA, alongside the 593:freedom of expression 520: 504: 477:Further information: 122:Years of service 1208:French war criminals 907:Agence France-Presse 537:escadrons de la mort 398:battle at Suez Canal 221:11th Shock Battalion 192:, who fought during 1198:French nationalists 1028:Marie-Monique Robin 1008:Marie-Monique Robin 947:Marie-Monique Robin 927:Marie-Monique Robin 825:Marie-Monique Robin 649:in 1973 during the 587:in April 2003. The 529:Marie-Monique Robin 527:In an interview to 508:François Mitterrand 348:First Indochina War 340:11th Choc Battalion 325:. He a member of a 198:First Indochina War 182:[pɔlosaʁɛs] 162:First Indochina War 1113:, Macmillan, 1971. 1093:The Battle of the 897:2007-09-30 at the 869:2007-09-30 at the 849:Human Rights Watch 779:p. 12, Aussaresses 589:Court of Cassation 549:Human Rights Watch 384:The Suez Operation 283:cataract operation 209:Free French Forces 718:. 4 December 2013 625:Colonel Trinquier 492:French government 485:French government 461:, an influential 446:Battle of Algiers 400:. He returned to 332:French Resistance 231:(replaced by the 171: 170: 134:Brigadier General 16:(Redirected from 1235: 1203:French torturers 1129:NYTimes obituary 1079: 1077: 1071: 1063: 1061: 1060: 1045: 1039: 1025: 1019: 1005: 999: 993: 987: 986: 964: 958: 944: 938: 919: 913: 912: 889: 883: 881: 861: 855: 854: 842: 836: 821: 815: 814: 812: 811: 796: 790: 786: 780: 777: 771: 770: 756: 747: 733: 727: 726: 724: 723: 708: 655:Manuel Contreras 455:Larbi Ben M'Hidi 268:LĂ©gion d'Honneur 217:Second World War 184: 179: 174:Paul Aussaresses 111: 102: 81: 61: 59: 44: 34:Paul Aussaresses 30: 29: 21: 1243: 1242: 1238: 1237: 1236: 1234: 1233: 1232: 1168:French generals 1138: 1137: 1120: 1103:Horne, Alistair 1088: 1083: 1082: 1065: 1064: 1058: 1056: 1047: 1046: 1042: 1026: 1022: 1006: 1002: 994: 990: 983: 975:. p. 126. 965: 961: 945: 941: 920: 916: 910: 899:Wayback Machine 890: 886: 879: 871:Wayback Machine 862: 858: 852: 843: 839: 822: 818: 809: 807: 797: 793: 787: 783: 778: 774: 768: 757: 750: 734: 730: 721: 719: 710: 709: 705: 700: 685:Roger Trinquier 677:The Praetorians 667: 665:Popular culture 632:Phoenix Program 601: 585:Court of Appeal 545: 481: 475: 422: 386: 362: 356: 296: 291: 276:Phoenix Program 177: 164: 160: 146: 83: 79: 78:3 December 2013 63: 62:7 November 1918 57: 55: 47: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1241: 1231: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1205: 1200: 1195: 1190: 1185: 1180: 1175: 1170: 1165: 1160: 1155: 1150: 1136: 1135: 1131: 1126: 1119: 1118:External links 1116: 1115: 1114: 1100: 1087: 1084: 1081: 1080: 1051:The Centurions 1040: 1020: 1000: 988: 981: 959: 939: 923:Pierre Messmer 914: 884: 856: 837: 816: 791: 781: 772: 767:, May 3, 2001 748: 740:Calgary Herald 728: 702: 701: 699: 696: 692:Jens BjĂžrneboe 672:The Centurions 666: 663: 600: 597: 553:Jacques Chirac 544: 541: 474: 471: 459:Ali Boumendjel 421: 418: 414:Suez operation 385: 382: 358:Main article: 355: 352: 295: 292: 290: 287: 169: 168: 155: 151: 150: 141: 137: 136: 131: 127: 126: 123: 119: 118: 113: 107: 106: 96: 92: 91: 82:(aged 95) 76: 72: 71: 53: 49: 48: 45: 37: 36: 33: 27:French general 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1240: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1201: 1199: 1196: 1194: 1191: 1189: 1186: 1184: 1181: 1179: 1176: 1174: 1171: 1169: 1166: 1164: 1161: 1159: 1156: 1154: 1151: 1149: 1146: 1145: 1143: 1134: 1132: 1130: 1127: 1125: 1122: 1121: 1112: 1108: 1104: 1101: 1098: 1096: 1090: 1089: 1075: 1069: 1054: 1052: 1044: 1037: 1033: 1029: 1024: 1017: 1013: 1009: 1004: 997: 992: 984: 982:9781107135048 978: 974: 970: 963: 956: 952: 948: 943: 936: 932: 928: 924: 921:Interview of 918: 908: 904: 900: 896: 893: 888: 882: 877: 872: 868: 865: 860: 850: 846: 841: 834: 830: 826: 820: 806: 802: 795: 785: 776: 766: 765: 760: 755: 753: 745: 741: 737: 732: 717: 713: 707: 703: 695: 693: 688: 686: 682: 681:Jean Larteguy 678: 674: 673: 662: 660: 656: 652: 648: 643: 641: 637: 633: 630: 626: 621: 619: 615: 611: 606: 599:After Algeria 596: 594: 590: 586: 582: 578: 574: 570: 566: 562: 558: 554: 550: 540: 538: 534: 530: 524: 519: 517: 516:El Halia mine 511: 509: 503: 501: 496: 493: 488: 486: 480: 470: 468: 464: 460: 456: 451: 447: 443: 442:Jacques Massu 439: 435: 431: 430:Philippeville 427: 426:Jacques Massu 417: 415: 411: 407: 403: 399: 395: 391: 381: 379: 375: 371: 367: 366:Philippeville 361: 354:Philippeville 351: 349: 345: 341: 337: 333: 328: 327:Jedburgh team 324: 320: 316: 311: 309: 305: 301: 286: 284: 279: 277: 273: 269: 265: 261: 257: 256: 251: 247: 243: 242: 236: 234: 230: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 205: 203: 199: 195: 191: 188: 183: 175: 167: 163: 159: 156: 152: 149: 145: 142: 138: 135: 132: 128: 124: 120: 117: 114: 108: 105: 101: 97: 93: 90: 86: 77: 73: 70: 66: 54: 50: 43: 38: 31: 19: 1106: 1092: 1086:Bibliography 1057:. 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Index

Aussaresses

Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux
France
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
France

France
French Army
Brigadier General
11e Choc
1er RCP
World War II
First Indochina War
Algerian War
[pɔlosaʁɛs]
French Army
general
World War II
First Indochina War
Algerian War
Free French Forces
North Africa
Second World War
11th Shock Battalion
commando
SDECE
Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure
Le Monde
torture during the Algerian war

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