Yves Godard (French officer)
Encyclopedia
Yves Godard was a French Army
officer who fought in World War II
, First Indochina War
and Algerian War. A graduate of Saint-Cyr and Chasseur Alpin, he served as a ski instructor in Poland
during 1939, but after World War II begun he returned to France. He become a prisoner in 1940 and tried several times to escape, finally succeeding on his third attempt. He made his way to France and joined the French Resistance
maquis
in Savoy. From December 1944 to February 1946, he headed the 27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins
.
He was part of the occupation force in Austria, then a general staff officer of the French Army before taking command of the 11e Bataillon Parachutiste de Choc
in 1948. He led the battalion during the First Indochina War, taking part during the war in a failed attempted to relieve the French Union garrison at Dien Bien Phu from Laos. In 1955 Godard became chief of staff of the Parachute Intervention Group, soon to become the 10th Parachute Division, in Algeria commanded by General Jacques Massu
. He took part in the Anglo-French operation during the Suez Crisis
in 1956.
Godard became one of the primary figures of the Battle of Algiers
, especially during the later part when he commanded the Algiers sector, supervising links between the Army and the Police, and serving as the chief of staff to Massu. At the suggestion of Paul-Alain Léger, he authorised the bleus de chauffe system, by which paratroopers disguised as young workers roamed the Cashbah and arrested FLN militants. Godard notably declared:
In Summer 1959, he was named director general of the Sûreté
in Algeria. Paul Delouvrier
contemplated his transfer, but hesitated, as "he holds all the security services of Algiers in his hands [and what would happen] if, immediately after his departure, bombs and grenades started exploding again?"
During the Barricade Week, in January 1960, Godard sent Captain Yves de La Bourdonnaye to negotiate Pierre Lagaillarde
's surrender. La Bourdonnaye later implied that he was sympathetic to the rebels and had done little to haste their surrender. In February, Pierre Messmer
had Godard transferred to France, but he returned to take part in the Algiers putsch of 1961. When the putsch failed he joined the OAS, helping modeling it after the structure of the FLN, but left Algeria in the summer of 1962 and stayed underground until 1967. Godard was sentenced to death for his part in the putsch and OAS. He settled in Belgium and unlike his OAS colleagues, he didn't return to France after the 1968 amnesty. Godard died in 1975 at Lessines, Belgium, only 64 years old.
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...
officer who fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
and Algerian War. A graduate of Saint-Cyr and Chasseur Alpin, he served as a ski instructor in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
during 1939, but after World War II begun he returned to France. He become a prisoner in 1940 and tried several times to escape, finally succeeding on his third attempt. He made his way to France and joined the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
in Savoy. From December 1944 to February 1946, he headed the 27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins
27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins
The 27ème bataillon de chasseurs alpins is a Chasseurs alpins battalion of the French Army. It is a heavily decorated unit, whose members wear the fourragère of the Legion of Honour.- Organisation :...
.
He was part of the occupation force in Austria, then a general staff officer of the French Army before taking command of the 11e Bataillon Parachutiste de Choc
11e régiment parachutiste de choc
The 11e régiment parachutiste de choc , often called 11e choc, was a parachute elite regiment of the French Army. It used to serve as the armed branch of the SDECE. Its insignia, designed by lieutenant Dupas, features Bagheera in the moonlight and a golden wing...
in 1948. He led the battalion during the First Indochina War, taking part during the war in a failed attempted to relieve the French Union garrison at Dien Bien Phu from Laos. In 1955 Godard became chief of staff of the Parachute Intervention Group, soon to become the 10th Parachute Division, in Algeria commanded by General Jacques Massu
Jacques Massu
Jacques Émile Massu was a French general who fought in World War II, the First Indochina War, the Algerian War and the Suez crisis.-Early life:Jacques Massu was born in Châlons-sur-Marne to a family of military officers; his father was an artillery officer...
. He took part in the Anglo-French operation during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
in 1956.
Godard became one of the primary figures of the Battle of Algiers
Battle of Algiers (1957)
The Battle of Algiers was a campaign of guerrilla warfare carried out by the National Liberation Front against the French Algerian authorities from late 1956 to late 1957. The conflict began as a series of hit-and-run attacks by the FLN against the French Police in Algiers. Violence escalated...
, especially during the later part when he commanded the Algiers sector, supervising links between the Army and the Police, and serving as the chief of staff to Massu. At the suggestion of Paul-Alain Léger, he authorised the bleus de chauffe system, by which paratroopers disguised as young workers roamed the Cashbah and arrested FLN militants. Godard notably declared:
In Summer 1959, he was named director general of the Sûreté
Sûreté
Sûreté is a term used in French speaking countries or regions in the organizational title of a civil police force, especially the detective branch thereof.-France:...
in Algeria. Paul Delouvrier
Paul Delouvrier
Paul Delouvrier was a French politician who was awarded the Erasmus Prize in 1985. He was born in Remiremont, Vosges....
contemplated his transfer, but hesitated, as "he holds all the security services of Algiers in his hands [and what would happen] if, immediately after his departure, bombs and grenades started exploding again?"
During the Barricade Week, in January 1960, Godard sent Captain Yves de La Bourdonnaye to negotiate Pierre Lagaillarde
Pierre Lagaillarde
Pierre Lagaillarde was French politician, and a founder of the Organisation armée secrète .Lagaillarde was a lawyer at Blida in Algeria, a reserve officer of the paratroopers, and an elected deputy of Algiers...
's surrender. La Bourdonnaye later implied that he was sympathetic to the rebels and had done little to haste their surrender. In February, Pierre Messmer
Pierre Messmer
Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer was a French Gaullist politician. He served as Minister of Armies under Charles de Gaulle from 1960 to 1969 – the longest serving since Étienne François, duc de Choiseul under Louis XV – and then as Prime Minister under Georges Pompidou from 1972 to 1974...
had Godard transferred to France, but he returned to take part in the Algiers putsch of 1961. When the putsch failed he joined the OAS, helping modeling it after the structure of the FLN, but left Algeria in the summer of 1962 and stayed underground until 1967. Godard was sentenced to death for his part in the putsch and OAS. He settled in Belgium and unlike his OAS colleagues, he didn't return to France after the 1968 amnesty. Godard died in 1975 at Lessines, Belgium, only 64 years old.