Scientific event

01- A Reading and Approach to the History of the Special Organization 1947-1954
Bouchikhi Cheikh
University of Oran 1 / Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology (CRASC)
Abstract
The most critical challenge facing any revolutionary movement is maintaining secrecy while simultaneously expanding its footprint. In this presentation, I attempt to answer several questions that I consider crucial to understanding the circumstances and achievements of the national movement between 1947 and 1954. However, I will preface this intervention with the following observations:

a) The duality in the party’s naming (Algerian People's Party / Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties).

b) The intense political friction and debates that resulted in the decision to establish the Special Organization (OS).

c) The issue of the dissolution of the Special Organization and its historical credibility.

Q1: Regarding what I will attempt to answer, we believe we are facing a major historical achievement. In making this judgment, we rely on material evidence rather than personal testimonies, in addition to the few documents that have reached us. We believe that working with testimonies through memoirs, interviews, or questionnaires requires constant updating and cross-verification.

Q2: The role of the Special Organization is perfectly clear regarding the events of November 1st, but was the OS alone?

Q3: What can we confirm with certainty regarding the attack on the Oran Post Office?

Q4: The dialectical and organic relationship between the establishment of the OS in 1947 and the outbreak of the Liberation War in 1954 is nearly indisputable. However, it is our duty to question the reasons behind the leadership changes at the helm of the organization and the role of these leaders as individuals in triggering the National Liberation War in Algeria.

02- The Special Organization and the First Signs of Armed Struggle
Nayer Mokhtar
University of Oran 1
Abstract
The Special Organization (OS) is considered the most significant outcome achieved by the Algerian People's Party (PPA) following its first congress on February 15, 1947. This congress witnessed a sharp rift between proponents of revolutionary action—who saw no benefit in participating in legislative and municipal elections—and advocates of legal action, who called for participation in elections resulting from the law of September 20, 1947. Activists and leaders at the time became convinced of the necessity of creating a separate political structure to counter French administrative and political maneuvers. Consequently, an agreement was reached to establish the "Special Organization" to prepare for the armed revolution. They viewed it as the foundational nucleus for the future armed struggle, which became inevitable given the utter futility of the political struggle.
Thus, the OS was established as a paramilitary organization. Its primary role was to acquire weapons, train party militants, and raise their awareness regarding the necessity of armed struggle. Consequently, the OS served as the armed wing of the PPA-MTLD, a structure that would later benefit the National Liberation Front (FLN) at the outbreak of the glorious Algerian Revolution.

03- The Committee for the Relief of Victims of Repression (CSVR) and Its Role in Supporting Members of the Special Organization
Djilali Houria
Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology (CRASC)
Abstract
In this work, we attempt to shed light on the Committee for the Relief of Victims of Repression (CSVR), which was established by the leadership of the MTLD in 1948. Its objective was to defend victims, detainees, and prisoners, particularly those who were members of the Special Organization (OS). This was achieved by supporting them in numerous ways, such as organizing their legal defense, mobilizing popular solidarity, assisting the families of victims, and explaining the suffering of prisoners to public opinion through the press and statements. The committee was led by active figures from cultural and sports organizations, clubs, schools, and the Algerian Muslim Scouts (SMA), and it also cooperated with French magistrates.

04- The Special Organization: Structure and Organization (1947-1950)
Messaoud Mohamed Ali and Chihi Fouad
Mohamed Boudiaf University - M'Sila
Abstract
Historical research demands precision and objectivity in all its fields, especially research into military history, as it represents the true arena of confrontation between the insurgent national force and the colonial power. This highlights the expertise and efficacy of each party in the military field, as demonstrated by the military attempts of Algerian militants prior to the outbreak of the blessed Revolution.
Most historians agree that the events of May 8, 1945, contributed significantly to crystallizing the revolutionary concept among the population in general and militants in particular. It formed the bedrock for the outbreak of the Liberation Revolution because it caused a definitive rupture between the colonial authorities and political parties, chief and most popular among them being the PPA.
Despite all attempts by the colonial authorities to defuse the situation by offering reforms, such as the General Amnesty Law of 1946 and the Algerian Statute of 1947, militants had lost all faith in political struggle, party leaderships, and the colonizer. Amidst the political frictions within the independence movement, it was decided to establish a military wing for the party to prepare for the armed revolution, named the Special Organization. In this presentation, we will review the following points:

The establishment of the Special Organization.

The internal regulations of the Special Organization.

The organizational structure of the Special Organization.

05- The Zeddine Conference (1948) and Its Impact on the Path of the Special Organization
Makhlouf Djamel
Hassiba Benbouali University - Chlef
Abstract
Following the establishment of the Special Organization in February 1947, it became the underground military wing of the MTLD, bearing the responsibility of preparing for the armed struggle as the sole solution for achieving independence. This conviction was reached by the leaders of this organization, who were enthusiastic, revolutionary youth. Achieving this goal required meetings between the leaders and members of the OS, among which was the Zeddine Conference, held in late December 1948 on a farm belonging to a party militant in the Zeddine region near Aïn Defla. This conference is a milestone historical event in the trajectory of the OS, as it outlined a new revolutionary strategy to avoid past mistakes and overcome internal crises.

06- From the Special Organization to the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action (CRUA)
Madani Hocine
University of Oran 1
Abstract
Discussing the Special Organization is a heavy task for any researcher due to the critical role this movement played in the history of the national movement and the independence path. This organization was comprised of men who played a major role in breaking the political conformism that characterized the national movement for half a century (1900–1954). What was this organization? What were the reasons behind its creation? How was it structured? What was its activity in the Oran sector (taking Tlemcen and Oran as models) up until the outbreak of the Revolution on November 1st, 1954?

07- The Testimony of the Leader of the Special Organization, Hocine Aït Ahmed, on the Oran Post Office Operation
Aït Habouche Hamid
University of Oran 1
Abstract
This research paper addresses a living testimony of the Moudjahid Hocine Aït Ahmed, one of the participants in the Oran Post Office operation on April 5, 1949. Although he has passed away, he documented his memoirs, which cover a portion of his militant journey extending from 1942 to 1952. He dedicated approximately 13 pages to this revolutionary operation, describing it minutely from the preparation phase to its conclusion, while highlighting the heroes who participated, its causes, circumstances, events, and consequences.
Hocine Aït Ahmed's memoirs, titled “The Spirit of Independence: Memoirs of a Combatant 1942-1952,” were translated into Arabic by Saïd Djaafar. The book consists of 252 pages, divided into 9 chapters in addition to an introduction. Through this research, we will attempt to study and critique the nature and content of these memoirs, focusing primarily on the Oran Post Office operation.

08- The Special Organization Through the Book: "Memoirs of an OS Militant"
Seddisti Belhadj
University of Oran 1
Abstract
The book was published in French under the title “Mémoire d’un militant de l’OS” by its author, Ramdane Essalah.

This book is considered a vital historical source as it contains fundamental information to better understand the Special Organization (or Secret Organization, as he referred to it).

It can be considered an autobiography of its author, who fought within the ranks of the OS, and simultaneously a historical source detailing a pivotal phase in the Algerian people's struggle and its militant class for national independence.

The author was a member during that era, specifically the phase of the establishment and foundation of the OS between late 1947 and March/April 1950.

While the author highlights some stages through which the Algerian national movement passed, he focused on a group of important details related to the creation of the Special Organization, emphasizing the following points:

He pointed to the North African Star (ENA), then the PPA, and subsequently the MTLD, linking the activities of these parties and their evolution to the decision to establish the OS.

He discussed the early leaders and the duties assigned to each within the Special Organization.

France's policy toward the Special Organization after its discovery and dénouement.

He demonstrated how the OS trained the leaders and established the structures that led to the outbreak of the Revolution on November 1st, 1954.

The author noted that this Special Organization seemed destined to remain unacknowledged, lacking media coverage or even mentions in the history curriculum textbooks of Algerian schools—and even when mentioned, it was treated as a passing event, for reasons we do not fully understand.

Fortunately, historian Mahfoud Kaddache covered the organization extensively in his two-volume book titled “L’histoire du nationalisme algérien” (History of Algerian Nationalism).

09- Marginal Resistance: A Reading and Analysis
Majdoub Karima
University of Oran 1
Abstract
Undoubtedly, the Algerian society's commitment to the spirit of independence and freedom drove it to maintain a policy of "rejection," defiance, resilience, and confrontation throughout the colonial era. This is evidenced by the continuity of overt resistance, represented by popular uprisings, alternating with "marginal resistance" between the 19th and 20th centuries. From this perspective, one can understand and interpret the phenomenon of popular effervescence (effervescences) with which Algerian society confronted the colonial system. This situation placed the colonial administration in an extremely awkward position, alerting it to the danger of "Algerian insubmission" and highlighting its failure to take the necessary measures to quell the unrest and pacify the Algerians.

Many reports bear witness to its failure to control Algerian society despite subjecting it to an exceptional legislative framework backed by a strict, arbitrary repressive apparatus that included deterrent penalties for various infractions, misdemeanors, and crimes... classified under codes applied exclusively to Algerians, notably the Code de l'Indigénat (Indigenous Code) of 1881.

The topic of marginal resistance is of great importance as it constitutes the missing link for understanding the profound conditions of Algerian society during French colonization and assessing the significance of society’s reactions toward settlement policies throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Described as "marginal" because it was covert and unorganized, this resistance was characterized as spontaneous (spontanée) and sporadic (sporadiques). Nonetheless, it contributed powerful models of confrontation against the realities imposed by French colonization. During this era, the phenomenon of rebellion and disobedience spread and intensified across hot spots (points chauds), utilizing unusual methods and means, such as banditry (banditisme) and "banditry of honor" (banditisme d’honneur / highway robbery). The facts of these events are revealed in colonial archives (especially overseas archives), showing a notable increase in intensity in border and rural areas. The simplest diagnosis of this marginal resistance is that it was not merely individual (as some believe) but took the form of groups (robberies, skirmishes, arsons, etc.).

An objective study of statistics from the archives clearly indicates the importance of this type of resistance as a phenomenon of violence and chaos, shaped by the compounded deprivation forced upon society. Especially during hard times, "marginalized elements" often emerged, rejecting the status quo and engaging in "open resistance" against the colonizer and his lackeys. These individuals felt freedom or salvation only within the atmosphere of terror they sought to create.

Despite all this, it would be incorrect to assume that it was a "blind" resistance, as colonial sources describe it. It is more accurate to interpret its characteristics and specificities based on the reality of Algerian society (such as affiliation with a certain reference, like a Zaouïa or a tribe).

Some Examples:

Slimane Benzian: An outlaw whose activity spanned from 1881 to 1891; he was affiliated with the Zaouïa of Bouamama.

Bouchetla (real name Ahmed Ould El Tayeb): Active from 1900 to 1903; affiliated with the Ouled Nhar tribe.

A group from the Flittas tribe (1890–1894): Drawing their spiritual and material impetus from the local Zaouïa (the dome of Sidi Benouda, Sidi Lazreg, Sidi Yahia...).

Some Conclusions: Our study of the documents reveals that:

There is a form of dynamism, continuity, and complementarity between popular resistance and marginal resistance.

Individual files reveal the trajectory of these outlaws and their methods of provoking and harassing the colonizer, ranging from burning crops and attacking settlers, authority figures, and military personnel, to theft or robbery. These were acts of defiance against the orders of the Code de l'Indigénat of 1881.

The ongoing question to this day: Are those labeled as "highwaymen, vagrants, criminals, etc."—i.e., outlaws—the revolutionaries of yesterday, the makers of the November Revolution?

Slimane Benzian (from Ouled Ziad, Chlef plateau - 1881–1891): Known for his allegiance to the Ouled Sidi Cheikh dome and his support for the jihad of Sheikh Bouamama. His fame spread after the killing of the French officer Weinbrenner in the city of Aïn Sefra in 1881 and his harsh treatment of Caïd Bousmaha. He was sentenced to death and executed, and his active companions were exiled to the island of Corsica (Corse).

Mostapha Ben Baki (from the outskirts of Témouchent): Belonging to the Ouled Nhar tribe, Sebdou district. His activity extended starting from 1881, marked by attacks against French public transport/coaches (along the southern Algerian-Moroccan border).

Boualam Bayazid (from the outskirts of Saïda and Aïn Sefra - active until 1895): Originally from Ouled Sidi Cheikh El Gharaba. He was sentenced to death and executed on November 11, 1881, at the El Djedida barracks in Oran.

Conclusion:
We believe that the national movement, with its overt or marginal resistances, is not exclusive to one region of Algeria over another, nor to one leadership over another. We also believe that it was not a coincidence, but rather the product of a long historical interaction that matured through the continuity and alternation of movements of resilience and confrontation, manifested in various types of resistance despite their intermittent failures.

The period of armed resistance against the French occupation of Algeria—which began in June 1830 with the army of Ottoman Algeria and continued through all forms of organized and popular resistance for at least seventy years with varying degrees of intensity and ferocity—resulted by the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a catastrophic general situation for the entire society. This was characterized by a massive population decline, a sharp drop in the standard of living, and the widespread underdevelopment of Algerians. Consequently, the French army and colonial state managed to establish near-total control, save for a few sporadic attempts here and there by certain resistance fighters, in what would later be known as "marginal resistance."

Following this ferocious period of our history, the country would endure conditions no less severe, notably—but not limited to—the First and Second World Wars. However, we exclude the interwar period (1919–1939), during which Algeria experienced a rich and dense phase in its general affairs, particularly through certain elites of diverse ideological backgrounds who would drive Algeria toward its future.

The most significant fruit of the independence movement was the resolution passed during the congress of the Algerian People's Party - Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties (PPA-MTLD) in February 1947, which determined the establishment of the Special Organization (OS). In my scholarly conviction, this Special Organization represents the core nucleus for the rebirth of the Algerian army.

Although the Special Organization was a paramilitary structure constrained by a lack of financial resources and qualified human personnel, it managed to become the practical engine of contemporary Algerian history. This organization endured, persisted, and drove many pivotal events; yet, we believe it has not been given sufficient scientific and academic spotlight.

Accordingly, the key research questions surrounding this organization are:

1- What were the causes and circumstances behind the establishment of the Special Organization?

2- What were the defining characteristics of the early leaders of the Special Organization?

3- What were the major achievements of the Special Organization between 1945 and 1954?

4- What was the significance and role of the Special Organization in the outbreak of the National Liberation War in 1954?

5- What were the social and political roots of the core members of the Special Organization?