Algiers – A newly released documentary sheds light on the horrific crimes committed by France during Algeria’s War of Independence, particularly the deliberate use of chemical weapons against Algerians. Through detailed accounts, the film not only reveals the devastating effects of these banned weapons but also exposes the dark side of colonial France.
Titled “Algeria: Special Weapons Units”, the 52-minute documentary by filmmaker Claire Pié is based on nearly a decade of research conducted by historian Christophe Lafaye. The film gathers testimonies from Algerian survivors who endured the horrors of France’s systematic use of chemical weapons.
The term “special weapons” refers to toxic gases, particularly CN2D—a deadly combination of cyanide-based gas (CN) and arsenic-derived gas (DM). This mixture severely irritates the lungs, eyes, and mucous membranes, causing headaches, vomiting, and, in confined spaces, fatal asphyxiation. These lethal gases were frequently used in caves where Algerians sought refuge.
One of the survivors, Ammar Aqqoun, who was only 19 at the time, recounted with a trembling voice how the French army used chemical weapons to hunt down Algerians who had managed to escape aerial bombardments.
“After the French army attacked our village with warplanes dropping multiple bombs, we fled to a cave for shelter. When we refused to come out, the French forces brought helicopters loaded with toxic gas. Within minutes, thick black smoke started filling the cave, causing suffocation and unconsciousness among everyone inside,” he recalled. Many other survivors shared similar testimonies, emphasizing the lasting psychological trauma inflicted by these atrocities.
The documentary highlights that chemical weapons had been banned since the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which France had ratified. However, while France openly acknowledges its military operations during World War II, it has remained completely silent about its use of chemical weapons in Algeria. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has repeatedly denied researchers and historians access to archives related to the Algerian War.
Historian Christophe Lafaye, who persistently sought official records without success, managed to uncover documents proving that the French army deployed chemical weapons against Algerians. His research indicates that at least 450 documented French military operations involved chemical warfare, particularly in the Kabylie and Aurès mountain regions. However, he estimates the real number to be between 5,000 and 10,000 operations across Algeria.
The documentary concludes that although France continues to suppress this dark chapter of its history, the lingering effects of its crimes remain a constant reminder of its brutal colonial past.
Nor El Islam – DZWatch.DZ
