Mahmoud Cherif
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Mahmoud Chérif (1912 – 1987) was an Algeria
n military
leader and politician. He was born in Chéria
in the Tébessa
governorship (wilaya) in 1912. After school, he joined the French army
and graduated from training courses with the rank of lieutenant
. He participated as a French-Algerian soldier on the side of the Allies
in the Second World War. After the war, he joined Ferhat Abbas
's UDMA
movement, which worked peacefully -- but unsuccessfully -- for Algerian rights. Soon after the outbreak of the Algerian War of Independence
in 1954, he joined the Front de libération nationale
(FLN) resistance movement, where his military command experience guaranteed him an important role. He headed the rebellion in FLN's Wilaya I -- an area which included the Tébessa region -- and was later promoted colonel
in the Armée de libération nationale
(ALN), FLN's armed wing. When the FLN created its government-in-exile (GPRA
) in 1958, Chérif was made minister of armament and materiel under Abbas's presidency, until a 1960 reshuffle.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Mahmoud Chérif (1912 – 1987) was an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n military
Military of Algeria
The People’s National Army is the armed forces of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Algeria has a large and reasonably well-equipped military to counter foreign and domestic threats...
leader and politician. He was born in Chéria
Cheria
Cheria is a town and commune in Tébessa Province in northeastern Algeria.-References:...
in the Tébessa
Tébessa
Tébessa is the capital city of Tébessa Province, Algeria, 20 kilometers west from the border with Tunisia. Nearby is also a phosphate mine. The city is famous for the traditional Algerian carpets in the region, and is home to over 161,440 people.-History:...
governorship (wilaya) in 1912. After school, he joined the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
and graduated from training courses with the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. He participated as a French-Algerian soldier on the side of the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
in the Second World War. After the war, he joined Ferhat Abbas
Ferhat Abbas
Ferhat Abbas Kabyle: Ferḥat Σabbas, was an Algerian political leader and briefly acted in a provisional capacity as the yet-to-become independent country's President from 1958 to 1961.- Background :...
's UDMA
Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto
Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto was a political party in colonial Algeria founded in 1946 by Ferhat Abbas, who was than elected deputy. The UDMA reflected the change in Abbas' point of view...
movement, which worked peacefully -- but unsuccessfully -- for Algerian rights. Soon after the outbreak of the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
in 1954, he joined the Front de libération nationale
Front de Libération Nationale
Front de Libération Nationale may refer to:* National Liberation Front , a socialist political party founded in 1954 for independence from France for Algeria...
(FLN) resistance movement, where his military command experience guaranteed him an important role. He headed the rebellion in FLN's Wilaya I -- an area which included the Tébessa region -- and was later promoted colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Armée de libération nationale
Armée de Libération Nationale
The Armée de Libération Nationale or ALN was the armed wing of the nationalist Front de Libération National during the Algerian War of Independence...
(ALN), FLN's armed wing. When the FLN created its government-in-exile (GPRA
GPRA
GPRA may refer to:*Government Performance and Results Act*Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic...
) in 1958, Chérif was made minister of armament and materiel under Abbas's presidency, until a 1960 reshuffle.