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Historical photographGenerals Giraud, Huré and Catroux and their officers in the field (1933)1933 (d'après le contexte ; non datée précisément)Publication illustrée non identifiée (recadrage « hure.jpg » de la double page « Bel_Madani_2.jpg ») ; fichier fourni par le titulaire du projetProbable attribution— Identification based on a published or institutional source, without independent confirmation.

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Henri Giraud

هنري جيرو

General, at the head of the Confins mobile group, east of the Bou Gafer.

Born
1879 Confirmed by a verified source
Died
1949 Confirmed by a verified source
French forces
Spellings
général Giraud

Biography

Gérardin places General Giraud's group east of the massif, with the Bournazel sub-group as its spearhead; the “Bou-Gafer East”, with peak 6, was its objective.

Wikipedia also reports a plane accident involving Giraud over the massif after a conference with Huré, around 16-17 February: not cross-checked by the sources consulted.

Assisted translation, not validated

Uncertainties

  • Plane accident: attested only by Wikipedia.

Sources — 3 sources cited · 2 independent documentary line(s)

  1. Gérardin, 1987 — p. 42-44Full text consulted · Colonial military
  2. Wikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
  3. Wikidata — « Wikidata — éléments consultés (Q16531628 bataille de Bougafer ; Q553522 Catroux ; Q318122 Giraud ; Q4775491 Huré ; Q2868274 Assou Oubasslam ; Q3133179 Bournazel) » — Q318122Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis

In the encyclopedia

Related events

  1. February 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    Order to “reduce” the Saghro

    “In February 1933, the order arrived to proceed with the reduction of this dissident patch” (Gérardin). Two mobile groups converged: General Catroux's, from Marrakesh, to the west; General Giraud's, from the Confins, to the east.

    ⌖ Jbel Saghro

    Sources — 1 sources cited · 1 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Gérardin, 1987 — p. 42Full text consulted · Colonial military
  2. 16 February 1933 – 17 February 1933Unverified information

    Huré takes command in the field; Giraud's plane accident

    According to Wikipedia, faced with the cliffs of the “Needles plateau”, Huré took command on the spot and divided the deployment into two sub-sectors (Catroux, Giraud); after a conference, Giraud's plane overturned during a forced landing and the general was injured. Not cross-checked.

    ⌖ Bou Gafer massif (combat area)

    Sources — 1 sources cited · 1 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Wikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer » — section DéroulementFull text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
  3. 21 February 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    Capture of the peak called “la Chapelle”

    After “a climb worthy of mountaineering”, the Bournazel sub-group, spearhead of Giraud's troops, seized a steep peak topped by a pinnacle, “la Chapelle” (peak 1). One officer and two NCOs were killed (Gérardin).

    ⌖ Bou Gafer massif (combat area)

    Reported figures

    Killed on the French side (officers/NCOs)1 officier, 2 sous-officiersGérardin, 1987Confirmed by a verified source

    Figures are attributed to their source, never merged or averaged.

    Sources — 2 sources cited · 2 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Gérardin, 1987 — p. 43 et légende p. 44Full text consulted · Colonial military
    2. Wikipédia (français) — « Henri de Bournazel »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
  4. 26 February 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    A twenty-four-hour truce, then refusal

    Notables representing 400 fighters ask General Giraud for a truce so their jemaas can deliberate; when it expires, a letter affirms “the will of all to resist to the end” (Saulay).

    ⌖ Bou Gafer massif (combat area)

    Reported figures

    Fighters represented by the notables400Saulay, 1983Confirmed by a verified source

    Figures are attributed to their source, never merged or averaged.

    Source pagesSaulay, 1983, p. 58

    Sources — 1 sources cited · 1 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Saulay, 1983 — p. 58Full text consulted · Colonial military
  5. 28 February 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    28 February: the assault on peak 6 fails

    Two detachments (goums, partisans, mounted Legion companies) attacked peak 6 at 7 a.m. after an artillery preparation, in light rain and an icy north-east wind. The defenders, entrenched behind low walls, repelled the assault; several officers were killed. At 12.20 p.m. all further assaults were halted (Gérardin).

    ⌖ Bou Gafer massif (combat area)

    Order of battle (Gérardin): first wave, 16th, 21st and 28th goums, motorised platoon of the 1st Foreign (Lieutenant Brencklé), mounted company of the 3rd Foreign (Captain Faucheux), with the fezaâ of the Tafilalt and the Regg as flank guard; second detachment (Captain Fouré), mounted company of the 2nd Foreign, carried platoon of the “Algeria” mounted company of the 1st Foreign, 7th and 17th goums.

    Support: six 75 mm mortars, a 65 mm mountain battery, 80 mm mountain guns of the Marrakesh militia and two 75 mm Legion batteries from the valley floor.

    Gérardin reports the deaths of Lieutenant Brencklé, Captain Faucheux (around 7.40 a.m.) and Lieutenant Binet, whose body was found “a few days later”. He describes Aït Atta women present behind the fighters, in terms shaped by the colonial gaze.

    Wikipedia puts French losses at “more than 64 killed”, including 12 legionnaires and Bournazel: an unreferenced figure. No source consulted gives Aït Atta losses for that day.

    Reported figures

    Killed on the French side« plus de 64 », dont 12 légionnairesWikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer »Unverified information
    Time of assault / halt7 h 00 / 12 h 20Gérardin, 1987Confirmed by a verified source
    French and auxiliary losses (Saulay)64 tués, 115 blessésSaulay, 1983Confirmed by a verified source
    Alnif and Mecissi fezzas (130 engaged)17 tués, 22 blessésSaulay, 1983Confirmed by a verified source

    Figures are attributed to their source, never merged or averaged.

    Source pagesBordeaux, 1935, p. 324Saulay, 1983, p. 59

    Sources — 3 sources cited · 3 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Gérardin, 1987 — p. 43-45Full text consulted · Colonial military
    2. Wikipédia (français) — « Bataille de Bougafer »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
    3. Saulay, 1983 — p. 59Full text consulted · Colonial military
  6. 25 March 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    25 March: end of the fighting and aman agreement

    “On 25 March, exhausted but magnificent, they surrendered to General Huré” (Gérardin). Saulay places the scene at the small marabout of Khouia Brahim, before Generals Huré, Giraud and Catroux, and reproduces Huré's official telegram (no. 43/PC, 25 March, 11 a.m.). 25 March is also the date given by Wanaim (2024), Wikidata and English Wikipedia.

    ⌖ Bou Gafer massif (combat area)

    What do the archives say? →
    Source pagesHart, 1984, p. 182Hart, 1984, p. 182Hart, 1984, p. 185Saulay, 1983, p. 62Saulay, 1983, p. 63

    Sources — 7 sources cited · 5 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Gérardin, 1987 — p. 45Full text consulted · Colonial military
    2. Wanaim, 2024 — titreBibliographic record only · Academic research
    3. Wikidata — « Wikidata — éléments consultés (Q16531628 bataille de Bougafer ; Q553522 Catroux ; Q318122 Giraud ; Q4775491 Huré ; Q2868274 Assou Oubasslam ; Q3133179 Bournazel) » — Q16531628, P582Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
    4. Wikipedia (English) — « Ait Atta »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
    5. Saulay, 1983 — p. 62-63Full text consulted · Colonial military
    6. — « Anti-Atlas » — § 41Full text consulted · Academic research
    7. Hart, 1984 — p. 182-183Excerpts consulted · Academic research
  7. July 1933 – August 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    Mobile groups converge on the eastern High Atlas

    From late July 1933, military groups are ordered to advance on Aghbalou n-Kerdous; Peyron names the mobile groups of Marrakech, the Confins, Tadla and Meknès.

    ⌖ Aghbalou n-Kerdous

    The 2021 commemorative dispatch speaks of “three military groups”; Yabiladi of five generals (Tadla, Meknès, Marrakech, Tinghir, Confins). No consulted source gives the exact number of units or men.

    Sources — 3 sources cited · 2 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Le Matin (dépêche MAP / Haut-Commissariat aux anciens résistants), 2021Full text consulted · Moroccan historiography
    2. Peyron, 2013Full text consulted · Academic research
    3. Benargane, 2025Full text consulted · Moroccan press
  8. 29 August 1933Confirmed by a verified source

    End of the fighting on the Baddou

    After a last attempt to break the encirclement, Zayd ou-Skounti “ended up surrendering” (Peyron). The date of 29 August and his reception by General Giraud at Assoul are given only by Wikipedia and the press.

    ⌖ Assoul⌖ Jbel Baddou

    Sources — 3 sources cited · 2 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Peyron, 2013Full text consulted · Academic research
    2. Wikipédia (français) — « Zaïd Ou Hsaïn Ou Skounti »Full text consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis
    3. Benargane, 2025Full text consulted · Moroccan press
  9. 1934Unverified information

    Anti-Atlas campaign, end of the “pacification”

    The 1934 Anti-Atlas campaign, conducted by two operational groups (Catroux to the west, Giraud to the east), is presented by Wikipedia as the last of the conquest.

    Sources — 1 sources cited · 1 independent documentary line(s)

    1. Wikipédia (français) — « Pacification du Maroc »Excerpts consulted · Encyclopedic synthesis

Source pages

  1. NuancesShort quotationBordeaux, 1935, p. 324

    Bordeaux reports the order to cover the red tunic with a “grey djellaba” (Saulay speaks of a “khaki gandoura”) and himself dismisses as “stupid and arranged remarks” the replies attributed to Bournazel. He places the bombardment “a little before seven”.

    « le lieutenant de Pothuau, lui vint transmettre l'ordre formel de recouvrir d'une djellaba grise la fameuse tunique rouge, décidément trop voyante, Bournazel aurait répondu : « C'est la chemise du condamné ? » et même qu'il aurait ajouté : « Offrez-moi la dernière cigarette ? » Propos stupides et arrangés. »

    Hagiographic biography published two years after the events by an Academician; Bordeaux transcribes médecin-major Vial's testimony. The source's vocabulary is kept in quotations.

    Document :
    Henry de Bournazel. L'épopée marocaine · Original document
    printed page
    printed page 324 · PDF page 322
    Status
    Quotation checked on the page image · 2026-11-07
    SHA-256 fingerprint of the private capture :
    1328756d767193d944ddceb314c1de81ea8b66879d71da65d0f8195c2293fa23

    Reproduction of the page not authorised: reference and short quotation only. The capture stays in the project's private archive.

    Linked to28 February 1933 — Death of Captain Henry de Bournazel28 February 1933 — 28 February: the assault on peak 6 failsHenry de BournazelHenri Giraud⌖ Bou Gafer (pass and memorial)
  2. ConfirmsShort quotationSaulay, 1983, p. 58

    On 26 February, notables representing 400 fighters ask for a 24-hour truce; when it expires, a letter states “the will of all to resist to the end”.

    « des notables Aït Atta, représentant 400 guerriers, demandent au général Giraud une trève de vingt-quatre heures pour permettre à leurs jemaas de conférer entre elles au sujet de la soumission. »

    The site quoted “on behalf of 400 warriors”: the exact wording is “representing 400 warriors”.

    Document :
    La Koumia. Bulletin de liaison, n° 88 · Periodical issue
    Source :
    Saulay, 1983
    printed page
    printed page 58 · PDF page 62
    Status
    Quotation checked on the page image · 2026-11-07
    SHA-256 fingerprint of the private capture :
    7681b6d8125afb1c7c1b4a232965758c8928ac6666e6918ea78ea95f362317b7

    Reproduction of the page not authorised: reference and short quotation only. The capture stays in the project's private archive.

    Linked to26 February 1933 — A twenty-four-hour truce, then refusalHenri Giraud
  3. ConfirmsShort quotationSaulay, 1983, p. 62

    On 25 March, before Huré, Giraud and Catroux, the last fighters of Bou Gafer led by Assou lay down their arms; Saulay lists five conditions of aman, including keeping weapons after registration.

    « — soumission complète au Maghzen ; — recensement des armes possédées par les insoumis qui les gardent en leur possession ; — amnistie complète pour tous les faits antérieurs à la soumission ; — pas de confiscation des biens possédés en tribu par les dissidents ; — pas de corvées en dehors des impôts légaux. »

    One of the two consulted sources listing these conditions, with Hart (1984, p. 182), whose list differs; the text of the agreement itself has not been found. The presence of Catroux and Giraud, previously given from Wikipedia, is attested by Saulay and the telegram he reproduces.

    Document :
    La Koumia. Bulletin de liaison, n° 88 · Periodical issue
    Source :
    Saulay, 1983
    printed page
    printed page 62 · PDF page 66
    Status
    Quotation checked on the page image · 2026-11-07
    SHA-256 fingerprint of the private capture :
    3447a2e0efcfdca39041af138e9ce2b90a837159f533ae689fdc6ee54cf30c97

    Reproduction of the page not authorised: reference and short quotation only. The capture stays in the project's private archive.

    Linked to25 March 1933 — 25 March: end of the fighting and aman agreementAssou OubasslamAntoine HuréHenri GiraudGeorges Catroux