Légende
The Bizerte Crisis 1961
Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba seen here addressing the press and condemning France and French aggression in the port city of Bizerte. July 21st 1961
The crisis arose after Tunisian forces surrounded and blockaded the French naval base at Bizerte in hopes of forcing France to abandon its last holdings in the country. After Tunisia warned France against any violations of Tunisian airspace, the French sent a helicopter up Tunisian troops responded by firing warning shots. In response to the blockade, 800 French paratroopers were sent in. As the paratroopers landed on the airfield, Tunisian troops sprayed them with machine gun fire. The French responded with air strikes and artillery barrages on the Tunisian roadblocks, destroying them. French tanks and armoured cars then rolled into Tunisian territory, and fired into the town of Menzel-Bourguiba, killing 27 soldiers and civilians.
The following day, the French launched a full-scale invasion of the town of Bizerte. Tanks and paratroopers penetrated into the city from the south, while marines stormed the harbour from landing craft. Tunisian soldiers, paramilitaries and hastily organised civilian volunteers engaged the French in heavy street fighting, but were overwhelmed by vastly superior French forces. The French overran the town on July 23, 1961.
Date
24 juil. 1961
Crédit
Photo12/Mirrorpix
Notre référence
MPX20A00_036
Licence
Droits gérés
Format disponible
63,2Mo (10,3Mo) / 32,3cm x 49,0cm / 3816 x 5787 (300dpi)