Battle of Ath Yahia Moussa
Part of Algerian War
Date6–7 January 1959
Location
Aït Yahia Moussa, Algeria
Result ALN victory
Belligerents
ALN France France
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Amirouche
Commander Azzedine		 France Jacques Faure
France Jean Graziani †
France Jean Chassin †
Strength
625 men[1] 32,000 men
30 aricraft
Casualties and losses
385 killed 400 killed

The Battle of Ath Yahia Moussa was an armed conflict during the Algerian War that took place on January 6, 1959, in the Kabylia region of Algeria. This battle involved the National Liberation Army (ALN) against the French Army.[2]

Background

On January 6, 1959, a meeting of several regional leaders of the National Liberation Army (ALN) was supposed to take place at the residence of Krim Belkacem's family in the village of Tizra-Aissa.[3][4] The French Army, informed of this meeting, deployed a military force consisting of 32,000 soldiers and around thirty aircraft with the objective of eliminating the ALN troops, including the four companies from Djurdjura, Maatkas, Ath Yahia Moussa, and Lakhdharia, as well as a commando of 25 men from the autonomous zone of Tizi-Ouzou. On January 5, there were multiple reports of French troops in the Aït Yahia Moussa area, leading to an evacuation order. The main leaders were to be safely evacuated to a secure location.[1]

Battle

The battle commenced on January 6 around 3 a.m. in the village of Tizra-Aissa. The first aerial bombardment occurred at 10 a.m., and the fighting persisted throughout the day, concluding on the morning of January 7 after the French army retreated. However, the toll was substantial on both sides, with the Algerian Liberation Army losing 385 of its fighters.[5]

Aftermath

During the course of the battle, the French army experienced the loss of two officers, Captain Jean Graziani and Lieutenant Jean Chassin[6] and 400 men.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Algeria Press Service. "Bataille d'Ait Yahia Moussa, une des 1es ripostes au Général De Gaulle".
  2. ↑ "Il y a 61 ans, la grande bataille de Vougarfen". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  3. ↑ Cheurfi, Achour (2004). La révolution algérienne: (1954 -1962) ; dictionnaire biographique. Alger: Casbah Éd. ISBN 978-9961-64-478-2.
  4. ↑ Azouaoui, Amar (2009). L'opération Jumelles: le déluge en Kabylie ; la guerre d'Algérie. Récits et témoignages. Tizi-Ouzou: Éd. El-Amel. ISBN 978-9947-30-029-9.
  5. ↑ "45 شهيدا لا تزال رفاتهم داخل مخبأ بغابات معذنون من معركة 5 مارس 1959 :من يريد طمس التاريخ الثوري لآيت يحي موسى؟". جزايرس. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ↑ Mire, Henri Le (1982). Histoire militaire de la guerre d'Algérie (in French). A. Michel. ISBN 978-2-226-01387-3.
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