Operation Blue Bird

For the Indian National Security Forces Operation, see Operation Bluebird.
Operation Blue Bird
Part of Algerian War
DateApril 1956 - 1 October 1956
Location
Kabylia, Algeria
Result

FLN victory

  • French operational failure
Belligerents

Algeria FLN

  • "Force K" defectors

 French Republic

  • "Force K"
Commanders and leaders
Algeria Krim Belkacem
Algeria Saïd Mohammedi
Algeria Zaidat Ahmed
Algeria Mehlal Said
Algeria Omar Toumi		 France Robert Lacoste
France General Lorillot
France Captain Hentic
Strength
300 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown, at least 2 killed 12 killed
6 wounded
400 weapons seized

Operation Blue Bird was a mission carried out by France's foreign intelligence service, the SDECE, in 1956 during the second year of the Algerian War of Independence. Its aim was to turn several hundred Kabyle people against the Algerian resistance known as the National Liberation Front (FLN), with the hopes of creating a clandestine counter-resistance force. These Kabyle fighters were known as Force K.[1]

The operation backfired and resulted in supplying the FLN with money, weapons, and new soldiers. The operation remained secret for many years, and it is still largely unknown in France and Algeria. Yves Courrière claims to have been the first to make information about the operation available to the public.[2]

  1. ^ Si cette opération est connue sous le nom d'« Oiseau bleu » répandu par les historiens qui utilisent une compilation répétée de sources don't l'imaginaire n'est pas toujours absent, aucun des initiateurs ou des participants ne le confirme. Pour eux, il s'agit de « Opération K », comme Kabylie. Trésor du Patrimoine, no 4, sept-oct 2002, Éditions Historiques, p 6
  2. ^ Yves Courrière (1970). Guerre d'Algérie: Les fils de la Toussaint. Vol. I. Fayard.