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Commemoration of the abandonment of the Harkis of France: the story of Sous-Préfet Robert

On May 12, 1962, the Minister of the Armed Forces Pierre Messmer took note of the decision taken by the State to abandon the Harkis and their families in Algeria, to the fate reserved for them by the FLN. The former sub-prefect of Sarlat had personally invested himself to fight against this decision

The troubled period has fewer and fewer direct witnesses to relate the facts. The Sous-Préfet Robert is one of those men who stood out on the still too smooth frame of History as we wanted to write it.

The regroupment camps

1959. In the middle of the Algerian war, a certain Michel Rocard was a young Inspector of Finances. He is the author of a damning report on the regroupment camps organized by the French army. In 1962, 2.35 million Algerians were to be confined in these camps or in towns supervised by the army. These regroupings are carried out to prevent the independentist FLN from recruiting widely from the rural population.

1,000 villages program

The report, which ended up appearing in public opinion, caused a scandal. The Government has to face it. This practice of regroupment camps will be renamed the 1000 villages program under the guise of a rural development operation.

In Kabylia, in Akbou, the historic stronghold of the FLN, Jean-Marie Robert was appointed Deputy Prefect of the Republic by General de Gaulle. The end is approaching, it is a question of settling the French presence.

Jean-Marie Robert, indignant at the fate of the Algerian populations, will report to the Élysée, and will try to facilitate the repatriation of Harkis families after 62

© Hugues Robert

Tortures

In terms of rural development, the reality observed by Jean-Marie Robert on the spot is quite different. The regroupment camps are not progressive villages. There is a merciless war to end, we practice torture. Indignant by the living conditions of this population taken hostage, the senior official reports the facts to the Elysee Palace, denounces torture, has soldiers brought to justice.

The Harkis’ choice

For years, the young Harkis have been cornered, they must choose their side. Without fully understanding the issues, they can only follow the FLN or side with the French army. Either way, they will be in danger. Those who choose the French camp will be trained, they will serve France until the end, in 1962.

In other words, those who got wet, drown!

Comment from Jean-Marie Robert to the telegram prohibiting the repatriation of the Harkis

The end of the war sounded, France then gives them the choice, initially, between a bonus to be able to stay there, or repatriation to France. Staying in place almost instantly signed on their death warrant. In Akbou, the Sous-Préfet Robert will help some of these men to take the necessary steps so that they can reach France.

Appointed sub-prefect of Sarlat, then Secretary General of the prefecture of Périgueux, Jean-Marie Robert will continue to help Harkis to be able to be repatriated to France, and probably saved from certain death.

Appointed sub-prefect of Sarlat, then Secretary General of the prefecture of Périgueux, Jean-Marie Robert will continue to help Harkis to be able to be repatriated to France, and probably saved from certain death.

© France 3 Périgords – Florian Rouliès & Pascal Tinon

Choose disobedience

Not all were able to benefit from this largesse from the early days of government. Very quickly, France no longer wanted to welcome more Harkis, and gave clear instructions in this direction. Witness to what was happening on the spot, Jean-Marie Robert cannot resign himself to obeying. Having become sub-prefect of Sarlat, then Secretary General of the Prefecture of Périgueux, he will use his connections to continue to repatriate, and no doubt save, a number of Harkis. Disobeying the instructions, he will send a boat to France with 70 Harkis and their families on board, or around 200 people.

Others will be parked in camps, prefabricated barracks, all over France. They will work in construction sites, factories, forest sites. France needs manpower. With the help of Jean-Marie Robert, some will arrive as far as Périgueux. It is there during this ceremony of May 12, that Hugues, the son of Jean-Marie Robert on the traces of the history of his father, found Boussaad Boukeroui, one of these Harkis helped by his father.

Hugues Robert, son of Prefect Robert, discovered his father's resistance to the abandonment of the Harkis by France

Hugues Robert, son of Prefect Robert, discovered his father’s resistance to the abandonment of the Harkis by France

© France 3 Périgords – Florian Rouliès & Pascal Tinon

This path of memory, Hugues Robert traveled it late, opening his father’s trunk. By classifying the thousands of letters, reports, private or official documents. Step by step, he reconnects the threads of history, finds places and people, goes there and can finally write “his” history of the Algerian war. That also of a father who knew how to behave with humanity, resisting decisions he considered unfair.

Sub-Prefect Robert, the man who fought against the abandonment of the Harkis



© France 3 Périgords

Boussaad Boukeroui recounts the fate of the Harkis during the Algerian war



© France 3 Périgords

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