Challe, Maurice, 1905-1979

Maurice Challe (b. Sept. 5, 1905, Vaucluse, France-d. Jan. 18, 1979), was a French general during the Algerian War, one of the heads of the Algiers putsch of 1961. Earlier he had been appointed commander in chief of the French forces in Algeria by Charles de Gaulle. He initiated highly effective aerial tactics against the National Liberation Army but later sympathized with the plight of Algerian loyalists. When the putsch failed, he was imprisoned for five years, but received amnesty from the French President in 1968.

From the description of Challe, Maurice, 1905-1979 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10598876