Battle of Timimoun

On October 17, 1957, this group of méharistes, who had been subtly swayed by the ideas of the Algerian independence movement, deserted their ranks within the French Army. Their desertion was marked by a shocking act: they eliminated eight French officers and non-commissioned officers who had been commanding them. This daring move demonstrated the extent to which the FLN - ALN's influence had penetrated even the ranks of the French military.[12]

Amidst the escalating tension and the brazen act of the méharistes, a series of events were set in motion to regain control and assert French authority in the region. The French government, led by Robert Lacoste, recognized the need for a powerful response to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.[12] In a bid to restore order and eliminate the rebellious méharistes, a decisive operation was conceived. The renowned French officer, Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Bigeard, and his 3rd Parachute Colonial Regiment (3e R.P.C) were entrusted with the task. Bigeard, with his extensive experience and military prowess, was granted "full powers" by General Salan to carry out a high-impact intervention.[12] Arriving in Timimoun on November 13, 1957, Bigeard and his forces were faced with the daunting challenge of tracking down the deserters amidst the harsh Sahara environment. The relentless heat, sandstorms, and scarcity of water made the task at hand immensely difficult. Under Bigeard's leadership, a comprehensive search and destroy mission commenced. Collaborating with other military units, including the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er R.E.P) under the command of Colonel Jeanpierre, Bigeard's 3e R.P.C meticulously combed the region around Timimoun. Through diligent intelligence gathering, verification, and cross-referencing, a breakthrough was achieved on November 21, 1957. The elusive group of méharistes from the ALN was pinpointed at Hassi Rambou.[12] The French military swiftly mobilized all available forces to converge on this location, and the radio center in Timimoun acted as the nerve center for real-time communication of developments to higher authorities in both Algiers and Paris.[12][13]