The Rif War 1921–26

An illustrated account of the major colonial conflict of the 1920s, in which the occupying Spanish and French faced an armed uprising from the Berber tribes of northern Morocco.

In June 1921, Abd el Krim, a Berber leader in the Rif highlands of Morocco, marshalled a pan-tribal uprising that killed some 13,000 Spanish troops, forcing occupying Spain to withdraw from the country’s north coast and garnering worldwide attention through el Krim’s deft diplomacy. Despite this, leadership of the French-held central and southern regions remained aloof until the spring of 1925 when Rifian forces attacked key outposts and strategic cities, instigating a series of clashes that culminated in May 1926 with a Franco-Spanish offensive and el Krim’s eventual surrender.

Co-authored by two leading authorities on the forces involved, this fascinating new study takes a close look at the most deadly colonial conflict of the interwar period. Rare photographs and newly commissioned artwork plates complement detailed examinations of the weapons, equipment and uniforms of all sides, enhancing the story of the challenge posed to two European armies by a tribal leader who would inspire North African nationalists for years to come.