The withdrawal of élite troops from the bled necessitated by "Barricades Week" had come as an infuriating interruption to Challe, just at a moment when Deuxième Bureau reports were giving the impression that the A.L.N. was on the verge of breaking. Immediately afterwards he had strained at the leash to get on with the Challe offensive by cleaning up the last "unpacified" area and the birthplace of the revolt: the Aurès—Nementchas. This new, final operation was due to begin on 19 April, but Challe's successor, General Crépin (promoted after replacing Massu in January), had other ideas.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1159