25 Facts About Jacques Massu

Jacques Massu led French troops in the Battle of Algiers, first supporting and later denouncing their use of torture.

Jacques Massu was born in Chalons-sur-Marne to a family of military officers; his father was an artillery officer.

Jacques Massu studied successively at Saint-Louis de Gonzague in Paris, the Free College of Gien and Prytanee National Militaire.

Jacques Massu then entered Saint-Cyr and graduated in 1930 as a second lieutenant in the promotion class "Marshal Foch" and chose the Colonial Infantry.

Jacques Massu was sent to Morocco with the 5th RTS and took part in the fighting around Tafilalt where he earned his first citation.

Jacques Massu was promoted to lieutenant in October 1932 and took part in the operations in High Atlas, earning a new citation.

In 1934 Massu was transferred to 12th RTS at Saintes, Charente-Maritime.

Jacques Massu served in Togo from January 1935 to February 1937 performing military and civilian duties in Komkombas.

Jacques Massu was serving in Africa when World War II broke out, and joined the Free French Forces.

Jacques Massu took part in the battle of Fezzan with the armoured troops of General Leclerc.

Jacques Massu served as a lieutenant-colonel in the 2nd Armored Division serving with distinction at the Battle of Dompaire in September 1944 earning the US Silver star.

Jacques Massu served with the division until the end of the war.

Raswa imposed the problem of a small drop zone surrounded by water, but Jacques Massu assured Andre Beaufre that this was not an insolvable problem for his men.

Jacques Massu's division was sent to Algeria in response to a wave of armed attacks and bombings coordinated by Algerian FLN.

Jacques Massu ultimately won the Battle of Algiers in 1957, during which French forces were able to identify and arrest the leadership of the FLN in Algiers through the use of coercive methods of interrogation and torture on members of subordinate cells.

Jacques Massu insisted that he would never subject anyone to any treatment that he had not first tried out on himself.

Jacques Massu became chairman of the Public Safety Committee and one of the leaders of the revolt.

On 14 January 1960, Jacques Massu gave an interview with the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in which he declared,.

Jacques Massu was immediately summoned to Paris where he was relieved of command and posted to Metz.

Jacques Massu was replaced in Algeria by General Jean Crepin.

Jacques Massu was promoted to general de corps d'armee in 1963.

Jacques Massu assured de Gaulle of his support, but according to some sources conditioned it upon an amnesty for French soldiers involved in the Organisation armee secrete who had opposed Algerian independence and attempted to assassinate de Gaulle on several occasions.

Jacques Massu retired from military duty in July 1969 and spent the rest of his life in his home at Conflans-sur-Loing writing his memoirs.

Bigeard was contradicted by Jacques Massu, who confirmed the existence of "Richaud", saying that Ighilahriz was referring to Dr Francois Richaud who had been the doctor stationed at the prison in 1957.

Jacques Massu died at Conflans-sur-Loing on 26 October 2002, aged 94.