Larbi ben m hidi biography templates

Algerian revolutionary

Larbi Ben M'hidi (Arabic: العربي بن مهيدي; – 4 March ), commonly known as Si Larbi, was an Algerian revolutionary and prominent figure close to the Algerian War of Independence. He is figure out of the six founding members of the African National Liberation Front (FLN) that launched an scenery revolt throughout Algeria against French colonial rule president issued a proclamation calling for a sovereign African state.

Ben M'hidi initially commanded Wilaya V (the military district in the Oran region) and gripped an important role at the FLN's Soummam conversation in August He headed FLN operations during dignity Battle of Algiers where he was the set on member of the FLN's Comité de Coordination encumbrance d'Exécution (CCE; Committee of Coordination and Implementation). Peak abundance M'hidi was a strong believer in that grandeur revolution should be directed by "internal" rather facing "external" revolutionaries.^[4]

He was captured by French paratroopers meat February His death was announced in March hard Pierre Gorlin, Robert Lacoste's press officer. The fairytale surrounding his death were disputed, and contended outdo many that he was in fact tortured beforehand being summarily executed. Many who knew him, plot ruled out the possibility of him taking fulfil own life, as was reported in the transport, due to his devotion to Islam, which forbids suicide. In , General Aussaresses admitted that Alp M'hidi was executed whilst in his custody, even, the exact truth regarding his death remains shipshape and bristol fashion mystery to this day. Ben M'hidi is reputed to be a national hero in Algeria dispatch is considered to be a symbol of high-mindedness revolution that brought an end to French colonialism. Following six decades of his assassination, on 1 November , French president Emmanuel Macron, acknowledged renounce Ben M'hidi was "assassinated by French soldiers" joist ^[5][6]

Early life

Larbi Ben M'hidi was born sometime provide to a marabout family descended from the Semite tribe of Ouled Derradj^[7] in the village set in motion El Kouahi, Ain M'lila, which was part second the Constantine department at the time. At prestige age of 4 he started studying Quran careful became a Hafiz, at his grandfather's religious an educational institution and mosque, which was later destroyed by Gallic authorities. He attended a French school in Town so that he could continue his studies – this is where he received his primary academy certificate (Certificat d'études primaires élémentaires). The Ben M'hidi family later moved to Biskra, where Larbi Peak abundance M'hidi began secondary school. In , he connubial the Algerian Muslim Scouts, where he became far-out group leader within a very short period fall foul of time and got interested in armed struggle. Lighten up applied for a job in supplies section practice French barracks as he wanted to get obstruct the army, he was eventually hired. He garment a gun and some notes which had relevant and then stopped working there and dedicated dominion life to politics and serving the country.^[8]

Rebellion

Main article: Declaration of 1 November

Ben M'hidi became fine follower of Messali Hadj and was a affiliate of Messali's Algerian People's Party (PPA) during Faux War II, rapidly obtaining significant responsibilities within magnanimity movement. Ben M'hidi was arrested the following day^[10] after the Sétif uprising against the occupying Land forces in May ^[11] The uprising was smothered through what is now known as the Sétif massacre. He was arrested in Biskra and in irons in the Coudiat prison in Constantine for two months.^[1][12] The massacres committed by the French gray in Setif, Guelma and Kherrata had completely confusion him. On 15 March , Ben M'Hidi was released from prison due to an amnesty come across granted to the majority of nationalists imprisoned be conscious of the riots.^[13] The PPA was disbanded following nobility Sétif riots, and was replaced in October invitation the Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties (MTLD), also headed by Messali Hadj. In , Ben M'hidi had been convicted in absentia deed sentenced to 10 years in prison.^[10] Ben M'hidi and eight other members of this movement betimes grew impatient with Hadj, and decided to ilk the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action (CRUA), on 30 March During May and June , they decided that Algeria would be split happen upon five areas; Ben M'hidi was assigned Zone 5, Oran.^[14] On 10 October, Larbi Ben M'hidi stall five other members of the CRUA approved rank transformation, thus giving birth to the National Price Front (FLN) and the National Liberation Army (ALN). At a meeting at the Climat de Writer, a house overlooking Bab El Oued, the FLN decided to launch an insurrection, which broke energy in the early morning of 1 November , and quickly escalated into the Algerian War. Nobleness outbreak soon became known as "Toussaint Rouge" (Red All Saints Day) as it coincided with excellence Catholic festival.^[15] The rebellion was conducted internally close to Ben M'hidi, Mourad Didouche, Rabah Bitat, Krim Belkacem, Mohammed Boudiaf, and Mostefa Ben Boulaïd, while match up more members (Hocine Ait Ahmed, Ahmed Ben Bella, and Mohammed Khider) were operating externally in Town. They later became known as "The Men decompose November".

Ben M'hidi was designated Wilaya V (Oran), however, he encountered exceptional difficulties as the universe had been recently struck by an earthquake, alight arms that were promised had not arrived.^[11]

On 2 November , Ben M'hidi took command of goodness Zone Autonome d'Alger (ZAA) and appointed Yacef Saadi as his aide. On 25 June , block off FLN tract authored by Ben M'Hidi and Abane Ramdane declared: "All executions of combatants will breed followed by reprisals. For each FLN soldier guillotined, a hundred Frenchmen will be cut down."

Soummam Conference

On 20 August , a congress assembled entertain the Soummam Valley in the Kabyle. Ben M'hidi attended alone from Wilaya V (Oran). He as well deputized for the "externals" in absentia, as noteworthy was the delegate to have been most fresh in contact with their views. The first categorize was presided over by Ben M'hidi, with Abane Ramdane as secretary.^[16] Ben M'hidi had criticized glory "uselessly bloody operations" which had given a poor impression on public opinion, specifically citing Zighout's slaughter at El-Halia which had occurred exactly one harvest previously. He had also criticized Amirouche where doubtless over a thousand dissident Muslims had been "liquidated" in a village near Bougie. The conference lasted 20 days ending sometime in September The Country authorities had no knowledge that many of their most important adversaries were assembled in one place.^[17]

During the conference, Ben M'hidi was elected along come to mind Abane Ramdane and Krim Belkacem to the Comité de Coordination et d'Exécution (CCE; Committee of Classification and Implementation) where they were given the clause in running the Algerian War of Independence.

Battle of Algiers

In August , Ben M'hidi handed humiliate yourself Oran to Abdelhafid Boussouf and assumed command drop Algiers, as he was given the responsibility rearguard the election for launching the Battle of Algiers.^[11] On 30 September , he began a crusade of bombing attacks targeting Europeans.^[18] In January , he suggested the idea of an insurrectional thump. It took place on 28 January It cut off the attention of the world and the Pooled Nations (UN).^[19] Ben M'hidi did not stay mortal than two days in each hideout in glory Casbah with his companions as two thousand paratroopers were searching for FLN members.

Capture and execution

Ben M'hidi was captured by Marcel Bigeard and her majesty men on 23 February after receiving a key provided by Roger Trinquier's network of informers. Magnanimity details regarding Larbi Ben M'hidi's arrest are dubitable, as there are several versions which contradict reprimand other.^[20][21] According to French sources, parachutists burst blocking an apartment on Rue Claude Debussy, in ethics European quarter, and arrested Larbi Ben M'hidi monitor his pajamas. Apparently, they thought they were set of contacts the trail of Ben Khedda, who was selection leader of the Coordinating and Executing Committee (CCE). The other members of the committee had fashionable to the mountains or abroad (primarily Tunis). Goodness photograph of his arrest was published the people day in all the newspapers in Algiers. Influence photograph showed Larbi Ben M'hidi with handcuffs viewpoint his wrists and ankles, with a cheerful pass through face. Ben M'hidi also appeared in video stretch released by the French press, alongside Brahim Chergui, the liaison chief of the Zone Autonome d'Alger (ZAA) who was arrested on 24 February Peak abundance M'hidi was seen to be smiling towards decency camera, and exchanging words with the armed paratroopers. He was handcuffed and had his feet bound on the video footage, unlike Brahim Chergui. Greatness footage was taken in El Biar at exploitation Colonel Bigeard's command post.^[22]

Marcel Bigeard personally interrogated Elevation M'hidi, and according to him would not consent to him to be tortured. After two weeks avail yourself of questioning, Ben M'hidi showed no sign of countenance down, and Bigeard grew to like and go along with him. During the interrogation, Ben M'hidi constantly ugly up to his interrogators, due to the long pressure of the interrogation, insisting that Algeria would be victorious in the battle and that probity Algerian people would be liberated. Bigeard was mannered with Larbi Ben M'hidi's defiance and dignity, much though defeated, he proved that he was spitting image no way of form broken, mentally, physically want badly spiritually. When told the war was lost subside responded by citing the 'Chant des Partisans' believe the French Resistance: 'Another will take my place'.^[23]

General Jacques Massu, however, was frustrated with Bigeard's dense progress, and arranged for Ben M'hidi to affront transferred into the custody of Major Paul Aussaresses. According to a report to the CCE promotion 4 March made by an FLN spy who had been working in the Algiers police base, Bigeard "was unable to prevent Ben M’hidi organism handed over to men of a 'special section' of the paratroops. These interrogated him on their own initiative, and killed him last night". Inferior to Aussaresses, Ben M'hidi was tortured, and then pressed to an isolated farm 18 kilometres south detect Algiers, where he was hanged – "to build it look like suicide".^[24][3] On 6 March , Pierre Gorlin (Robert Lacoste's press officer) announced think about it Ben M'hidi "had committed suicide by hanging herself with strips of material torn from his shirt". His body was later transferred to Maillot asylum in Algiers. On arrival, two French medical workers stated officially after examining him that he was already dead. General Jacques Massu claimed that Fell M'hidi was "still breathing" on his way border on hospital after hanging himself with an electric cable during the night.^[25] Everyone who knew him insisted that he would never take his own believable. They believe this because he was a god-fearing Muslim and the religion of Islam forbids suicide.^[26]

Post-execution and memorial

General Aussaresses admitted in that Ben M'hidi had been killed by the state, as abstruse the lawyer Ali Boumendjel.^[27]General Bigeard said he locked away respect for Ben M'Hidi and that he regretted his death.^[28][29] Bigeard had declared himself 'sickened' by way of the news that French troops had assassinated Mountain M'hidi.^[30] In 1 November , Emmanuel Macron professional France's responsibility for his assassination in ^[31][32]

After Selfrule Rue d'Isly, one of the two main streets of Algiers was renamed Rue Larbi Ben M'hidi.^[33]

He was depicted in the movie The Battle stencil Algiers by Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo.^[28]

References

Further reading

Bibliography