This documentary runs for 51 minutes and 36 seconds.

The documentary exposes a little-known aspect of France's colonial warfare.

The French army’s illegal use of chemical weapons in Algeria’s war of independence, as revealed by testimony and documents.

This documentary investigates the French army's secret use of chemical weapons during Algeria's war for independence, a violation of international law. It presents archival evidence and personal accounts from former French soldiers and Algerian fighters, highlighting France's breach of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. Historian Christophe Lafaye provides evidence, including a 1956 letter from a senior army commander to the government that mentions the 'use of chemical means'.

France set up a Special Weapons Unit in December 1956, using the same CN2D gas as in World War I, to target Algerian fighters in mountain caves. Of the estimated 8,000 to 10,000 incidents, only 440 attacks have been documented so far. One of the most devastating attacks was at Ghar Ben Shatouh in March 1959, in which an estimated 150 civilians were killed. Despite this, France did not formally ban chemical weapons until 1993, more than 30 years after Algeria’s independence.

Published On 22 Jul 202622 Jul 2026

The documentary’s findings highlight the lasting impact of France's colonial practices and the delayed legal reckoning. France's formal ban on chemical weapons only came in 1993, more than three decades after Algeria’s independence, underscoring a prolonged evasion of accountability. This film adds crucial evidence to the historical record, prompting renewed discussion on war crimes and reparations.