Battle of the borders (Algerian war)

Overview

The battle of the borders, was a group of military operations initiated mainly on the Algeria-Tunisia border during the Algerian war, from 21 January to 28 May 1958, by the paratrooper units of the French army against the attacks, and bombardments of the Morice line by the combatants of the Armée de libération nationale (ALN), the military branch of the FLN, stationed in Tunisia.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of the Borders was a series of French military operations conducted primarily along the Algeria-Tunisia frontier between January and May 1958, targeting ALN forces stationed in Tunisia that were pressing against the Morice Line. The operations pitted French paratrooper units against ALN combatants who were mounting attacks and bombardments on the fortified barrier. With FLN losses recorded at approximately 2,400 against a force estimated between 5,000 and 10,000, the engagements inflicted substantial attrition on the ALN's external contingent. By degrading the cross-border threat, the operations reinforced the Morice Line's function as a strategic barrier separating FLN interior forces from external reinforcement and supply, a central French objective in containing the insurrection during this phase of the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (10)