Jacques Pâris de Bollardière

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Jacques Pâris de Bollardière (Châteaubriant, 16 December 1907 — Talhouet, 22 February 1986) was a French army general, famous for his non-violent positions during the 60s.

1 Youth
2 Second World War
3 Indochina war
4 Algerian War of Independence
5 Retirement and pacifist activism
6 Honours
7 Notes and references
8 External links

[edit] Youth

Bollardière studied at the Saint-Cyr ; he graduated in 1930 with the rank of sergeant, for insubordination (Saint-Cyr cadets normally graduate with the rank of sub-lieutenant). He was quickly promoted to sub-lieutenant, and to lieutenant in 1932.

He joined the French Foreign Legion in February 1935, and was affected in Algeria until 1940.

[edit] Second World War

In February 1940, Bordelière was assigned to the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, and promoted to captain. He took part in the Battles of Narvik, and was abck in Brest on the 13 of June. Seeing the debacle of the French armies, he crossed the Channel aboard a fishing ship and joined De Gaulle (the call that founded the Figthing French was sent on the 18th) ; the Vichy regime sentenced him to death.

Bordelière fought in Gabon and Erytrea, during the East African Campaign. Leading a 90-man strong party, he managed to size and occupy an Italian fort in Massawa, taking over 300 prisonners. He was made a Compagnon de la Libération for this action.

Promoted to commandant in 1941, he took part in the capture of Damas, the Battle of Bir Hakeim, and the First Battle of El Alamein. He was severely wounded by a mine.

In October 1943, he requested paratrooper instruction. On the 12 April 1944, Bollardière was parachuted in France to take a command in the maquis in Ardennes, under the nom de guerre "Prisme". His maquis units engaged German troops and sustained , heavy casualties, but managed to make junction with Allied troops. In September 1944, Bollardière returned to England.

Affected to the "Red Berets" of the 3e Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (Paratrooper Light infantry), he was parachuted over Holland.

[edit] Indochina war

Bollardière was in command of a paratrooper demi-brigade at the outbrake of the First Indochina War. He took part in commando actions in Laos, Cambodge and Tonkin.

[edit] Algerian War of Independence

From October 1953, Bollardière teached paratrooper strategy and tactics at the Paris École de Guerre, the prestigeous school for staff officers.

At the outbrake of the Algerian War of Independence, in July 1956, Bollardière was put in command of two brigades in the Algerian Atlas Mountains. He was promoted to General of Brigade in December, becoming the youngest general of the French army of the time.

In opposition to government policy regarding usage of torture among French units, Bollardière requested to be relieved from command, and returned to France in January 1957. He was sentenced to 60 days of fortress arrest at La Courneuve for publicly supporting Servan-Schreiber, and was later assigned to French Equatorial Africa and Germany.

He resigned from the Army after Algiers putsch, as he was not able to obtain a command in Algeria.

[edit] Retirement and pacifist activism

Bollardière converted to pacifism after a talk by Jean-Marie Muller in Lorient, on the 23 October 1970. He presided the association Logement et Promotion Sociale between 1968 and 1978. In 1973, he was arrested as he protested against nuclear trials in Mururoa.