The battle of Mermoura, which represents a great symbolic importance, is a heroic epic, which constituted a great setback for the bloodthirsty colonizer and break the pride of the French army. Especially by the loss of one of its most prominent officers: Colonel “Jean Pierre”, famous for his victories in Asia and Africa. Just after the debacle of Dien Bien Phu in April 1954, he was directed to Algeria.
The battle took place at Mermoura, in the Taya Mountains, on 28 and 29 May 1958. The enemy mobilised huge forces from various regions with the aim of surrounding the area and its 100 moudjahidines armed with small arms. The battle began with an aerial and ground bombardment to clear the way for the infantry who attempted to storm the mountain, and collided with the moudjahidines, forcing the colonel to personally supervise the battle, aboard his helicopter which was hit resulting in his death and that of those with him.
Enemy losses are estimated at more than 250 dead, three planes and a helicopter, that of Colonel Jean Pierre destroyed. The losses on the Algerian side were 50 chahids, including two officers, Tahar Dahmoune and Khlifa Khatla.
