Toxic colonialism - Secret chemical warfare in Algeria | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Chemical Warfare: The use of toxic chemicals as weapons, prohibited by international law but historically employed.
• Geneva Protocol (1925): An international treaty banning the use of chemical and biological weapons in warfare.
• CN2D: A chemical agent (a mixture of arsenidate derivative and a cyanide derivative – chloroacetophenone) used by the French army in Algeria, causing severe respiratory distress and other symptoms.
• Ushhatu Cave & Cave Warfare: Caves served as strategic refuges for Algerian fighters and civilians, leading to French tactics of gassing these locations.
• Operation Binoculars: A large-scale French military operation in Kabylie, Algeria, involving systematic use of chemical weapons.
• Shaw Plan: A French military strategy emphasizing the use of chemical weapons to control territory and displace populations.
• Smokeouts: French military operations specifically targeting caves with toxic fumes to force out Algerian fighters and civilians.
• Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962): The conflict between France and Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) for Algerian independence.

The Hidden Chemical Warfare of the Algerian War

The Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) witnessed a dark chapter of concealed chemical warfare perpetrated by the French army. Testimonies from survivors like Amar Aun and Muhammad Labachi detail the horrific experiences of being gassed in caves used as shelters, particularly the Ushhatu cave in 1959. These accounts describe immediate symptoms – coughing, green drool, suffocation – and lasting trauma. The attack on Ushhatu, where over 100 villagers sought refuge, exemplifies the indiscriminate harm inflicted on both combatants and civilians.

Historical Context of Chemical Weapons

The use of chemical weapons isn’t new. The video traces its history back to antiquity, with a long-standing prohibition against using poison in warfare (“Armisbella nonvenenis gour”). The First World War saw widespread deployment of chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas, resulting in over a million casualties and nearly 100,000 deaths. This prompted the 1925 Geneva Protocol, signed by over 30 countries, including France, banning the use of chemical and biological weapons. However, crucially, the protocol did not prohibit the production or stockpiling of these weapons, leading to continued development by major powers like the US, Britain, the Soviet Union, and France. France, in particular, maintained a secretive chemical weapons program.

French Authorization and Implementation

Despite officially condemning chemical weapons, French military authorities authorized their use in Algeria. A letter from May 21st, 1956, reveals the commander of the armed forces in Algeria receiving agreement “in principle” for the use of chemicals, following a decision by the resident minister. Initial assessments focused on “cave infection” using leftover stocks from World War I, like chloroacetophenone sternutatory candles and incendiary tablets.

A special weapons platoon was created within the 10th military region, staffed largely by conscripts with minimal training and inadequate protective gear (gas masks only). Soldiers like Jacqu U, assigned to this platoon, describe their role as “processing” caves – filling them with gas to prevent their use by Algerian fighters. He notes a lack of information about the gases themselves, highlighting the disregard for soldier safety and ethical concerns. War diaries, like one shown in the video, meticulously document gassing operations, including the number of grenades used and the effects on those inside.

CN2D: The Chemical Agent Employed

The primary chemical agent used was CN2D, a mixture of arsenidate derivative and chloroacetophenone. Expert Clobra explains that CN2D’s immediate effect is to incapacitate the target, preventing them from protecting themselves. It causes vomiting, streaming eyes, and burning lungs, ultimately leading to death if exposure continues. The gas was deployed in grenades, pots, and rockets, with quantities ranging from 70g to 5kg. The practice of contaminating cave walls ensured long-term inaccessibility, effectively denying refuge to Algerian fighters.

Escalation and Systematic Use

The use of chemical weapons escalated over time. Initially limited, it became widespread, with over 100 units deployed across Algeria. General Raul Salomon, a powerful military leader, stressed the importance of chemical weapons in maintaining order, advocating for their widespread use and supplying all operational troops with the necessary equipment. Operation Binoculars, launched in 1959, exemplifies this systematic approach, with platoons created across Algerian territory.

Survivor Accounts and Lasting Effects

The video powerfully presents the human cost of this chemical warfare. Ammon Kasanova, a soldier involved in cave operations, describes the lingering smell of gas and the psychological trauma. He recounts entering caves, gassing them, and sealing the entrances, knowing the fate of those inside. Eve Carino, also a veteran of the special weapons platoon, endured health problems resulting from gas exposure and faced years of bureaucratic resistance when seeking a disability pension.

The story of the villagers gassed in the Ushhatu cave is particularly harrowing. Survivors recount the horrific scene of bodies bloated and unrecognizable, identified only by their clothing. The trauma continues to affect the community, with lingering health issues and a collective memory of loss. Muhammad Yahi Misoud, son of a combatant killed in 1960, speaks of the enduring smell of gas in caves and the scorched earth policy employed by the French.

Cover-Up and Historical Reckoning

Following Algerian independence in 1962, the French government actively concealed its use of chemical weapons. Archives were classified, and veterans were discouraged from speaking about their experiences. Historian Kristoff Lefay faced significant obstacles in accessing archival material, with requests repeatedly denied under the pretext of national security. He highlights the absurdity of this justification, arguing that the true reason for secrecy is to protect France’s historical reputation.

Despite these challenges, Lefay has pieced together evidence from declassified documents, soldiers’ accounts, and descendants’ attics, revealing the extent of the chemical warfare program. The video concludes with a call for France to acknowledge its past crimes and confront the legacy of its actions in Algeria.

Conclusion

The video exposes a disturbing and largely hidden aspect of the Algerian War: the systematic use of chemical weapons by the French army. Driven by a desire to maintain colonial control, French authorities authorized and implemented a policy of gassing caves and displacing populations, inflicting immense suffering on both fighters and civilians. The subsequent cover-up and denial of responsibility underscore the need for historical accountability and a reckoning with the dark chapters of colonial history. The testimonies of survivors serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring human cost of war and the importance of upholding international laws prohibiting the use of chemical weapons.