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When does the battle begin?

Why do the sources date the start of the battle to 11, 12, 13 or 15 February, and its end to 24 or 25 March?

What the source says

Academic researchBibliographic record only

Wanaim, 2024

titre de l'article

The title dates the battle from 11 February to 25 March 1933.

⚠ Only the title was consulted: we do not know which event 11 February corresponds to.

Encyclopedic synthesisFull text consulted

Wikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer »

The battle “began on 13 February 1933”; the harkas moved off during the night of 12-13; negotiations took place on 24 March. Wikidata uses the limits 13 February – 25 March.

Academic researchFull text consulted

Bounfour, 1989

p. 92

“Before the final submission, from 15 February to 24 March, the dissident tribes led by Hssu u Ba Salm (Ilmshan tribe) on Mount Bou Gafer […].”

« Avant la soumission finale, du 15 février au 24 mars, les tribus dissidentes conduites par Hssu u Ba Salm (tribu Ilmshan) dans le mont Bou Gafer »
Verified quotation

⚠ A chronological landmark in a work of literary criticism, without archival reference.

Colonial militaryFull text consulted

Gérardin, 1987

p. 42-45

The order arrived “in February 1933”; after “eight days of delaying actions” the Aït Atta reached the Bou Gafer; assaults ceased on 28 February and the blockade lasted “25 days” until the “surrender” on 25 March.

Colonial militaryFull text consulted

Saulay, 1983

p. 53-55, 60, 62-63

Saulay details the first stages: goum patrols from 11 February, concentration of the Draa harka on 11-12, departure of Bournazel's detachment from Alnif on the 12th at 11 p.m., first clashes on the 13th (Legion convoy captured, aircraft brought down). The partisans have been fighting “since 13 February”; the last defenders lay down their arms on 25 March at the zawiya of Khouia Brahim at 11 a.m. (General Huré's telegram). Huré speaks of “forty-two days” of hostilities.

Source pages : Saulay, 1983, p. 55 · Saulay, 1983, p. 60 · Saulay, 1983, p. 63

Academic researchFull text consulted

— « Anti-Atlas »

§ 37-41

The conquest of the Sarhro highlands “began on 13 February 1933”; March was the month of negotiations, which concluded on 25 March.

⚠ For 1933 Riser relies on Saulay (1983): the two accounts are not two independent lines.

Moroccan historiographyFull text consulted

Benadada, 1999

§ 6

The battle “took place between January and March 1933”.

⚠ Broad dating without days; “January” may include the preliminary encirclement operations.

Comparison grid

Wanaim, 2024Wikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer »Bounfour, 1989Gérardin, 1987Saulay, 1983 — « Anti-Atlas »Benadada, 1999
Start11 February13 February15 FebruaryFebruary (no day)11 February (first movements); 13 February (first fighting)13 February 1933January 1933
End25 March24 March (negotiations) / 25 March (Wikidata)24 March25 March25 March 1933, 11 a.m.25 March 1933March 1933

Our reading

These differences are not necessarily contradictions: each date may designate a different moment: the harkas' first movements, the first engagements, arrival before the Bou Gafer. Gérardin gives no start day, only “February” and “eight days of delaying actions” before the retreat into the massif.

For the end, 24 March corresponds to the negotiations (Bounfour, Wikipedia) and 25 March to the end of the fighting and the agreement (Gérardin, Wanaim, Wikidata). We adopt here the widest range, 11 February – 25 March, always indicating the source.

Assisted translation, not validated

Reading a colonial archive

Military reports and colonial literature are indispensable — and situated — sources: they count their own losses precisely, the enemy's rarely; they name their officers, rarely the Aït Atta fighters; they write to justify a policy. Oral traditions and Moroccan historiography ask other questions and have their own memorial uses.

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