Algeria, Special Weapons Sections
Algeria, Special Weapons Sections

Movie·2025·0h 55m

Algeria, Special Weapons Sections

Country

France

Language

Arabic

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// overview

The Story

Original title: Algérie, Sections Armes Spéciales

This documentary by director Claire Billet and historian Christophe Lafaye details the massive and systematic use of chemical weapons during the Algerian War. Algerian fighters and civilians, sheltering in caves, were gassed by "special weapons sections" of the French army. The gas identified on military documents is CN2D, whose widespread use forced insurgents to flee "treated" sites, at the risk of dying there. The method is reminiscent of the "enfumades" used by the French expeditionary force during the conquest of Algeria in the 19th century. Between 8,000 and 10,000 such operations are believed to have taken place on Algerian soil between 1956 and 1962. This historical aspect is little known due to the difficulty of accessing archives, many of which are still classified, raising questions about memory, historical truth, and justice.

Written By

Christophe Lafaye

Editor

Yann Coquart

Themes

war crimesalgeriafrench colonialismalgerian war (1954-62)chemical weaponguerilla armydjazaircrimes against civilians

Production House

France Télévisions
Solent Production

Audience Score

90%

2 votes

Skip3%
Timepass7%
Go for it28%
Perfection62%

Where to watch

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// cast

Cast

Christophe Lafaye

Christophe Lafaye

Self

Mouna Soualem

Mouna Soualem

Narrator (voice)

Julien Kramer

Julien Kramer

Dub 1

Edouard Eftimakis

Edouard Eftimakis

Dub 2

Igor Ochronowicz

Dub 3

// crew

Crew

Claire Billet

Claire Billet

Director, Writer

Yann Coquart

Editor

Christophe Lafaye

Christophe Lafaye

Writer

// more like this

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