And this is what happened. Because of the numbers of suspects involved, the D.O.P. “experts” often had to rely on outside help; “in certain cases”, admits Massu, “each of the regimental interrogation teams of the 10th Paratroop Division was obliged to have recourse to violence”. It was at this point, one might say, that torture became institutionalised in the army in Algeria.

QUESTION: At what point does tactical violence become institutional policy? The distinction between orders and tolerated practice is worth probing.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 592