Sola (Société Luxembourgeoise d’Arms) was a company in Luxembourg that attempted to get into the arms business in the 1950s making simple, stamped 9mm open-bolt submachine guns. They produced two models, the Solar Super and the stripped-down Sola Leger (light). Neither one found any military or commercial buyers, and instead the company became embroiled in a scheme to smuggle arms to the FLN in Algeria. The plot was discovered by authorities in 1957 and the factory was shut down, with the Luxembourg police keeping 50 examples of the guns for study and destroying the other 2,260 complete and 2,350 partial examples.
Many thanks to the French National Forensic Police Department for allowing me access to film these two examples for you!
There were probably more than enough German Mp40s, Italian M38s, American Thompsons, and etc. floating around the bazaars to make the Solas rather superfluous.
For that matter, by 1957 the FLN could have had all the PPS43s and PPSh-41s they wanted, from Russia, for free, simply by having a few marathon readings of the Collected Speeches of Lenin.
clear ether
eon
The FLN was and is not a terrorist organization. It was a nationalist movement formed to free Algeria from French colonialism. It successfully did so. As usual any homegrown movement that opposes the imperialist power is always labeled as terrorist. Fighting to take control of your own country from an invader is a noble enterprise. And before the pile on don’t forget the sordid history of your own country, wherever that may be.
Dear Stephen,
Yes indeed!
Very true and correct.
Sincerely,
Andreas
Surprising and disturbing to see this type of incorrect and unjust titling and word usage here on this channel!
I would think that the phrase “ terrorist organization” is quite appropriate if same said group employs terror as a means to an end.
Clear blather,
ACES&EIGHTS