The Battle of Algiers

The Battle of Algiers (1966).

The Battle of Algiers (French Title: La Bataille d'Alger; Italian Title: La battaglia di Algeri) is a 1966 war film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. Based on true events that occurred between 1954 and 1957, the film depicts the rise of an Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) cell in Algiers, its violent confrontations with the French colonial authorities, and its eventual destruction at the hands of French paratroopers. The film is widely regarded as a classic by revolutionaries and governments alike for its realistic portrayal of urban insurgent and counter-insurgency tactics.

The following weapons can be seen in the film The Battle of Algiers:

Handguns

Unknown Smith & Wesson Revolver

Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hagiag) attempts to shoot a Smith & Wesson revolver at a gendarme during his first mission as a FLN guerrilla.

Ali surprises the gendarme with a revolver.

Ali pulls the trigger, only to realize the weapon was not loaded.

Mle 1892 Revolver

FLN guerrillas make frequent use of the Mle 1892 Revolver during hit-and-run attacks on French gendarmes.

Modele d’Ordonnance Mle 1892 Revolver

A FLN guerrilla aims a Mle 1892 at an unsuspecting gendarme.

A gendarme is shot by a guerrilla as he responds to a gunshot inside the police station.

A child guerrilla shoots a gendarme with a Mle 1892 retrieved from a waste basket.

MAB Model D

Gendarmes are armed with MAB Model D pistols, which the FLN guerrillas often capture after their attacks.

French MAB Model D Pistol - 32 ACP

A FLN guerrilla takes a pistol from a dead gendarme after shooting him in broad daylight.

A guerrilla flees from an attack with a Mle 1892 Revolver in one hand and a MAB Model D in the other.

M1911A1 Pistol

M1911A1 pistols are seen in the waistbands of FLN guerrillas. One is also seen on a table as Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hagiag) and his comrades plan an attack as French paratroopers close in on their location.

World War II issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

A M1911A1 is tucked into a FLN guerrilla's waistband as they lead a crowd of angry Casbah residents.

Ali lays a M1911A1 on the table as he talks to Hassiba, Mahmoud and Omar.

Submachine Guns

MAT-49

The MAT-49 is the most common weapon in the film, appearing in the hands of numerous FLN guerrillas and French soldiers. Virtually all of the paratroopers led by Colonel Mathieu (Jean Martin) use MAT-49s.

MAT-49 Submachine Gun - 9x19mm

Ali guns down an Algerian collaborator with a MAT-49.

A soldier fires the MAT-49 at a fleeing guerrilla.

FLN guerrillas fire a MAT-49 during an ambush.

Ali holds a MAT-49 while hiding from French troops. The large blank adaptor can be clearly seen in this shot.

French paratroopers hold MAT-49s during a standoff with some guerrillas.

A paratrooper fires a MAT-49 as a diversion as engineers set explosive charges to blast El Jaffar (Yacef Saadi) from his hiding place.

Rifles

MAS-36

French soldiers guarding the checkpoints around the Casbah carry MAS-36 rifles.

MAS-36 7.5x54mm French

Soldiers with MAS-36 rifles guard a checkpoint.

A soldier searches the residents as they leave the Casbah.

Col. Mathieu uses a film of soldiers at a checkpoint to point out their error in searching the residents in Arabic dress and letting those in European dress - including FLN guerrillas - through unmolested.

MAS-49

Some French soldiers carry MAS-49 rifles, distinguishable as earlier models by their longer length and lack of an integral grenade launcher/muzzle brake. A FLN guerrilla is seen with one after a raid on a police station.

MAS-49 - 7.5x54mm French

A soldier with a MAS-49 patrols along the perimeter that is set up to seal off the Casbah.

Soldiers inspect the papers of Arab civilians.

A guerrilla flees with a MAS-49 after attacking a police station.

M1 Garand

At least one soldier is armed with a M1 Garand while rounding up innocent Algerians following a FLN bomb attack.

M1 Garand semiautomatic Rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06

An innocent street cleaner is arrested by police officers and soldiers after the bomb attack.

M1 Carbine

Post-war M1 Carbines are used by some soldiers and a number of the paratroopers.

M1 Carbine (Post-War) - .30 Carbine

A soldier with a M1 Carbine guards a checkpoint.

A M1 Carbine-equipped soldier arrests the street cleaner.

A paratrooper holds a carbine as they search the Casbah.

A M1 Carbine is seen when Col. Mathieu gives a final ultimatum to Ali.

Machine Guns

MAS AA-52

A paratrooper holds a MAS AA-52 machine gun during a standoff with trapped FLN guerrillas.

MAS AA-52 GPMG - 7.5x54mm French.

The paratrooper watches as the guerrillas lower a basket for messages.

Other

OF 37 Grenade

Some of the paratroopers have OF 37 grenades attached to their webbing.

A paratrooper notices something wrong about a group of women in veils.

An OF 37 grenade is attached to a paratrooper's belt as they wait for guerrillas to surrender.