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The Bizerte Crisis 1961 Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba seen here addressing
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The Bizerte Crisis 1961 Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba seen here addressing
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
Terry Fincher
Daily Herald
Mirrorpix
Bizerte
Tunisia
1961 1285
Media ID 21828998
© Mirrorpix
1961 Africa Anger Angry Arab Desk Microphones Nationalist Sixties Suit Tunisia War And Conflict
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This powerful print captures a defining moment in history - the Bizerte Crisis of 1961. Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba stands before the press, his words condemning France and their aggressive actions in the port city of Bizerte. It was July 21st when tensions escalated as Tunisian forces blockaded the French naval base, hoping to reclaim their country's last remaining holdings. The crisis reached its peak when Tunisia warned against any violations of their airspace, only to be met with warning shots from French troops. In response, 800 French paratroopers were deployed and chaos ensued. The airfield became a battleground as Tunisian troops fired upon the paratroopers while tanks and armoured cars rolled into Tunisian territory. Tragically, lives were lost on both sides. The town of Menzel-Bourguiba witnessed destruction and claimed the lives of 27 soldiers and civilians. Undeterred by this tragedy, France launched a full-scale invasion of Bizerte on July 23rd. In this gripping image captured by Terry Fincher for Memory Lane Prints, we witness the aftermath of intense street fighting between Tunisian soldiers, paramilitaries, and civilian volunteers against vastly superior French forces. Despite their valiant efforts, they were overwhelmed as tanks penetrated from one direction while marines stormed from another. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of a tumultuous chapter in history where political tensions erupted into violence but also highlights the resilience displayed by those who fought for what they believed in during that fateful summer day in 1961.
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