Challenging De Gaulle: The O.A.S and the Counter-Revolution in Algeria, 1954-1962 [Hardcover]

Alexander Harrison (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275927911 | ISBN-13: 978-0275927912 | Publication Date: February 3, 1989

Challenging De Gaulle tells the story of the Algerian counterrevolution from the viewpoint of the ordinary foot soldier in the O.A.S. (Organisation Armee Secrete). In a series of interviews with former O.A.S. participants, and using many unpublished documents and personal diaries, Alexander Harrison examines the motives of these defenders of French Algeria. "Were they criminals, sociopaths, or honorable men more sensitive to their country's fate than were many of their contemporaries?" Harrison poses this question in the book's introduction and then seeks the answer with an objective eye. Students and scholars of twentieth century history, as well as the general reader interested in this fascinating period, will find this volume superb reading. The book begins with a historical view of French colonization of Algeria, outlining the roots of the counter-revolution. Further chapters discuss the three abortive efforts to grant native Algerians their independence. The O.A.S. emerged in the wake of these defeats. Harrison also examines the evolution of counter-terrorism into a full-fledged coalition, under the O.A.S. label, to challenge DeGaulle. Finally, those who fought give personal accounts of the movement's defeat.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The best account in English to date of the Organization Armee Secrete (OAS) during the French-Algerian war, 1945-1962. Besides using earlier works like Geoffrey Bocca's The Secret Army (CH, May '69), Hamilton has collected a voluminous amount of oral testimony concerning this period. The book is a very informative account of the Algerian War based almost solely on these primary sources. A clear explanation of the bitter struggle between the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale and the OAS is presented with all of its death, torture, and terror. Indeed, the French forces in Algeria became a serious threat to the government of President Charles De Gaulle. Several assassination attempts were made against the French president. De Gaulle described the OAS as "thugs consumed by totalitarian passion . . . " Not only is this work a valuable source for North African specialists, it will also appeal to undergraduates and general readers.--”–Choice

“. . . Harrison's book is an important contribution to the history of the end of the French Empire. Obviously, normal documentation is very limited. So oral history comes into its own. . . .”–Times Higher Educational Supplement

“A fascinating account of the fighters for a lost cause -- full of the brutalities and warped heroism which characterized the attempts to keep algeria French, after France decided that it be French no longer.”–William Colby, Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency

“This remarkable book . . . the first fully documented history of the OAS . . . based on a wealth of oral testimony and unpublished documentary sources. (Alexander Harrison) writes with insight.”–L. H. Gann Hoover Institution

About the Author

ALEXANDER HARRISON was a resident of France from 1960 to 1963 where he began his research on the participants of the Algerian conflict.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (February 3, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275927911
• ISBN-13: 978-0275927912
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,090,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging de Gaulle, November 24, 2009

By 

John A. Kennedy "Alan Kennedy" (Portadown, Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Challenging De Gaulle: The O.A.S and the Counter-Revolution in Algeria, 1954-1962 (Hardcover)

Takes you right inside this ruthless counter-revolutionary urban guerrilla organisation. The author has done considerable painstaking research meeting and interviewing surviving former members of the organisation. It describes in great anecdotal detail the people on the ground, the foot soldiers, amd their leaders - the real OAS. Some excellent tales of their various operations, the persona who were the OAS, their characters, conflicting personalities and fall-outs and the reasons why they took this course of action. You feel you can really understand the motivation and their sense of grievance and betrayal by France, particularly that of General de Gaulle. However, the publishers need to take a good hard look at the text - it contains many general spelling/typing mistakes and also some key names in the historical drama are misspelt- unforgiveable.

5.0 out of 5 stars eyewitness accounts of the Organization Armee Secrete, March 9, 2010

By 

Nazani (MidAtlantic) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Challenging De Gaulle: The O.A.S and the Counter-Revolution in Algeria, 1954-1962 (Hardcover)

From the Praeger Book News:
"Challenging De Gaulle tells the story of the Algerian counter revolution from the viewpoint of the ordinary foot soldier in the O.A.S. In a series of interviews with former OAS participants, and using many unpublished documents and personal diaries, Harrison examines the motives of these defenders of French Algeria. "were thy criminals, sociopaths, or honorable men more sensitive to their country's fate than were many of their contemporaries?"

The book begins with a historical view of French colonization of Algeria, outlining the roots of the counterrevolution. Further chapters discuss the three abortive efforts to grant native Algerians their independence. The OAS emerged in the wake of these defeats. 192 pages, indexed, a few maps and photos.

For modern readers, the comparisons with the current 'war on terror' are inescapable.