Raoul Salan (1961).jpg
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Raoul Salan (1961).jpg
OR:
Raoul Salan (1961).jpg on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

Raoul Albin Louis Salan (; 10 June 1899 – 3 July 1984) was a
French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
general and the founder of the
Organisation armée secrète The ''Organisation Armée Secrète'' (OAS, "Secret Armed Organisation") was a far-right French dissident paramilitary organisation during the Algerian War. The OAS carried out terrorist attacks, including bombings and assassinations, in an atte ...
, a clandestine
terrorist Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...
organisation that sought to defend the French colonial empire by preventing
Algerian independence An independence referendum was held in French Algeria on 1 July 1962. It followed French approval of the Évian Accords in an April referendum. Voters were asked whether Algeria should become an independent state, co-operating with France; 99 ...
. He served as the fourth French commanding
general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...
during the
First Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...
. He was one of four retired generals who organized the 1961
Algiers Putsch The Algiers putsch (french: Putsch d'Alger or ), also known as the Generals' putsch (''Putsch des généraux''), was a failed coup d'état intended to force President of France, French President Charles de Gaulle not to abandon French Algeria, ...
operation. He was the most decorated soldier in the French Army at the end of his military career.


World War I

Salan was born on 10 June 1899 in
Roquecourbe Roquecourbe (; oc, Ròcacorba) is a commune in the Tarn department and Occitanie region of southern France. The name of the settlement – ''Ròca Corba'' in Occitan – means "curved rock". See also *Communes of the Tarn department The ...
, Tarn. Enlisted in the
French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
for the duration of the
war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
on 2 August 1917, he was accepted in the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr on 21 August 1917, being assigned to the cadet student platoon of the 16th Infantry Regiment stationed at Montbrison, as part of the ''promotion'' "de Saint-Odile et de La Fayette" (1917-1918). Salan graduated as an ''aspirant'' on 25 July 1918, and was assigned to the 5th Colonial Infantry Regiment (5e RIC) in
Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...
on 14 August 1918. As a platoon leader in the 5e RIC's ''11e Compagnie'', he took part in the fighting in the
Verdun Verdun (, , , ; official name before 1970 ''Verdun-sur-Meuse'') is a large city in the Meuse department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital ...
region (
Saint-Mihiel Saint-Mihiel () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Geography Saint-Mihiel lies on the banks of the river Meuse. History A Benedictine abbey was established here in 708 or 709 by Count Wulfoalde and his wif ...
, Les Éparges, Fort de Bois-Bourru, Côte de Oie, Cumières-le-Mort-Homme). He was mentioned in the Order of the Brigade by Order dated 29 December 1918.


World War II

Until France's surrender in World War II, Colonel Salan commanded a battalion of Senegalese troops. At first he sided with the Vichy Government, but when the tide turned to the Allied side, he campaigned hard and successfully in southern France with General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's troops. Between the world wars he was attached in various capacities to the Ministry of Colonies, and in 1941–43 he served with the Free French forces in French West Africa. After participating in the Allied invasion of France in 1944, he went to Indochina in 1945 and was commander in chief there during 1952–53.


Indochina and Algeria

Salan served as the commander of French forces in Vietnam from 1945 to 1947. By 1948, he was commander of all French land forces in East Asia, and after the death of Jean de Lattre de Tassigny in 1952, Salan became the commander-in-chief in Indochina. Salan served as commander-in-chief of French forces in French Algeria in 1956. In 1958, he established special military internment centers for PAM rebels. The Minister of Interior declared a state of emergency, while the army engaged in a "struggle against the terrorism" of the FLN. Special powers were devolved to the military and were returned to civilian powers only in September 1959, when Charles de Gaulle made his speech on self-determination. General Salan refused to apply the Geneva Conventions ratified by France in 1951 because the detainees were not POW's. The civil authorities had different attitudes concerning the use of torture by the military. In 1958, Salan called for the return to power of Charles De Gaulle, believing that the latter would protect French Algeria. He retired shortly after, first moving to Spain, then to mainland France. He was banned from entering Algeria in 1960. Nevertheless, Salan returned to Algeria to organize the putsch on 21 April 1961 with
André Zeller André Zeller (1 January 1898 – 18 September 1979) was a French Army general. He was one of the four generals (the others being Raoul Salan, Edmond Jouhaud, and Maurice Challe) who organized the Algiers putsch of 1961. Decorations *Grand Offi ...
,
Edmond Jouhaud Edmond Jouhaud (; 2 April 1905 – 4 September 1995) was one of four French generals who briefly staged a putsch in Algeria in April 1961. Early life Edmond Jouhaud was born on 2 April 1905 in French Algeria. He was a descendant of early Algeri ...
and
Maurice Challe Maurice Challe (5 September 1905 – 18 January 1979) was a French general during the Algerian War, one of four generals who took part in the Algiers putsch. A native of Le Pontet, Vaucluse, and a veteran of the Second World War, Challe trans ...
. After the failure of the putsch, he became the chief of
Organisation armée secrète The ''Organisation Armée Secrète'' (OAS, "Secret Armed Organisation") was a far-right French dissident paramilitary organisation during the Algerian War. The OAS carried out terrorist attacks, including bombings and assassinations, in an atte ...
(OAS), which attempted to disrupt the April 1962 Peace
Evian Accords Evian ( , ; , stylized as evian) is a French company that bottles and commercialises mineral water from several sources near Évian-les-Bains, on the south shore of Lake Geneva. It produces over 2 billion plastic bottles per year. Today, Evia ...
. Salan, who was sentenced to death in absentia, was arrested in April 1962. He was tried for treason and sentenced to life in prison. Salan was pardoned and released from prison in June 1968. He was amnestied by the French parliament and re-instated to the rank of general in 1982.


Death

Salan died on 3 July 1984. Every year, former members of the OAS bring flowers to his tomb on his death anniversary.


Decorations

Salan was the most decorated soldier in the French Army. French and Colonial Decorations *
Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
**Knight (5 April 1922) **Officer (21 August 1940) **Commander (10 February 1945) **Grand Officer (27 October 1948) **Grand Cross (28 August 1952) *
Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
(12 July 1958) * Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (1 citation) * Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (8 citations) * Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures (7 citations) * Croix de la Valeur Militaire (1 citation) *
Volunteer combatant's cross The Volunteer combatant's cross (french: "Croix du combattant volontaire") was a French decoration that originally recognized those who volunteered to serve in a combat unit during World War II. It is the equivalent of the "1914–1918 Volunteer ...
*
Combatant's Cross The Combatant's Cross (french: "Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognizes, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France. The Poilus (French combat soldiers) of World War I worked toward recognition by the govern ...
* Colonial Medal (Far East clasp) *Grand Cross of the
Order of the Black Star The Order of the Black Star (''Ordre de l'Étoile Noire'') was an order of knighthood established on 1 December 1889 at Porto-Novo by Toffa, future king of Dahomey (today the Republic of Benin). Approved and recognised by the French government ...
*(with GC rosette)Grand Cordon of the Order of the Dragon of Annam with Military and Civil title *Officer and (later)Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Cambodia The Royal Order of Cambodia ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា; french: Ordre royal du Cambodge) was a colonial order of chivalry of French Cambodia, and is still in use ...
*Grand Cross of the
Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol The Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, also called the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Umbrella ( lo, ອິສະຣິຍາພອນລ້ານຊ້າງຮົ່ມຂາວ ''Itsariyaphon Lan Sang Hom Khao ...
*Grand Cross of the Tai Order of Civil Merit ( Sip Song Chau Tai) *Grand Cross of the Order of Glory (Tunisia) *Grand Cordon of the
Order of Ouissam Alaouite Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
*Grand Cross of the
Order of the Star of Anjouan The Ordre de l'Étoile d'Anjouan (Order of the Star of Anjouan) was a French colonial order of knighthood founded in 1874. History It was established in 1874 by sultan Said Ali bin Said Omar of the Grande Comore island of Anjouan, reorganised ...
*Grand Cross of the Étoile des Comores *
Royal Order of Monisaraphon The Royal Order of Monisaraphon ( km, គ្រឿងឥស្សរិយយសមុនីសារាភ័ណ្ឌ) was founded by King Sisowath of Cambodia on 1 February 1905. It is conferred for accomplishment and outstanding support in the ...
*
Gallantry Cross (South Vietnam) The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal wa ...
, with palm *National Defense Medal (Cambodia) * Syria-Cilicia commemorative medal *
Order of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic Order of Civil Merit ( ar, وسام الاستحقاق المدني) (french: Ordre du Mérite civil) is a Syrian decoration. It was established on 25 June 1953. The decoration is awarded for service to the state or to the Arab cause. It has five ...
* Médaille Interalliée de la Victoire * Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918 * Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1939–1945 with clasps "Africa", "Italy", "France", "Germany" *
Médaille de l'Aéronautique The Aeronautical Medal (french: "Médaille de l'Aéronautique") is a state decoration of France established by the decree of February 14, 1945. It is awarded to both military personnel and civilians for outstanding accomplishments related to t ...
*
Medal for the War Wounded The Medal for the War Wounded (french: Médaille des blessés de guerre) was originally a mere insignia in the form of an ribbon awarded for wounds received in the line of duty while facing an enemy. The insignia was established by the law of 11 De ...
*Annam Order of Military Merit *Order of the Reign of King
Savang Vatthana Sisavang Vatthana ( lo, ພຣະບາທສົມເດັຈພຣະເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິຕສີສວ່າງວັດທະນາ) or sometimes Savang Vatthana (full title: Samdach Brhat Chao Mavattaha Sri Vitha Lan X ...
* Médaille commémorative de la campagne d'Italie 1943-1944 * Médaille commémorative de la campagne d'Indochine * Médaille Commémorative des Opérations de Sécurité et de Maintien de l'Ordre en Afrique du Nord with "Algeria" clasp Foreign Decorations *
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
(US) *Commander of the
Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(CBE) (UK) *Vietnam Campaign Medal (Thailand) *Sena Jayaseddh Medal(Cambodia)


Bibliography

*''Mémoires Fin d’un empire'' (4 volumes), Editions Presses de la Cité, 1970–74 **''Le sens d’un engagement'', 1970 **''Le Viêt-minh mon adversaire'', 1971 **''Algérie française'', 1972 **''L’Algérie, de Gaulle et moi'', 1974


References


Further reading

* Alexander, Martin S., and John FV Keiger, eds. ''France and the Algerian War, 1954-1962: Strategy, Operations and Diplomacy'' (Routledge, 2013) *General Paul Aussaresses, ''The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955-1957''. (New York: Enigma Books, 2010) .


External links

*
Association of Friends of Raoul Salan
*
Raoul Salan, a colonial General
by Madeleine Rebérioux
BBC article on Salan's 1962 sentencing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salan, Raoul 1899 births 1984 deaths People from Tarn (department) French generals French military personnel of World War I French Army personnel of World War II French military personnel of the First Indochina War French military personnel of the Algerian War French prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment French torturers French war criminals École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni Order of the Francisque recipients Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures Recipients of the Cross for Military Valour Recipients of the Aeronautical Medal Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Governors of Cochinchina OAS members in Spain OAS members convicted of crimes People convicted of treason against France People sentenced to death in absentia by France Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by the French military Recipients of French presidential pardons War criminals of the Algerian War