The Algerian WarA case study of violent decolonization

Origins of the Algerian War

The Algerian War1954-1962War between Algeria and

France resulting in Algerian independence

Extremely violent: perhaps 300,000 killed

Terrorism, guerilla warfare, torture, and atrocities on both sides

Case study of independence through violence

French Colonialism1830: France

invades Algeria1848: Algeria

becomes a departement of France

French settlers (pieds-noirs or colons) migrate in large numbers

Why Revolt?Land

French government distributed prime land to pieds-noirs

Economic inequalityPower

French citizens had more rights than Algerian Muslims

Settlers blocked moves to give Muslims more rights

Worldwide trend of decolonization, 1945-1960s

Founded November 1, 1954

Coalition of Algerian nationalist groups

Became the major combatant against the French in the Algerian War

The National Liberation Front (FLN)

The “Savage War of Peace”

May 8, 1945: V-E DayActivists demonstrated

for Algerian independence

Fight between protesters and French police

Muslim protestors killed 103 Europeans that evening

French military cracked down and took revenge, killing thousands

The Sétif Massacre

March 13 – May 7, 1954

Battle in Vietnam resulting in defeat of French army by Vietnamese nationalists

Resulted in French withdrawal from Vietnam

Sign of French military weakness

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

November 1, 1954: FLN launched coordinated attacks across Algeria, killing 7 people

FLN declared goal of establishing an independent Algeria

Sparked a series of attacks and counter-attacks by French and Algerian forces

Toussaint Rouge (Red All Saints’ Day)

Guerrilla War: An Interlude

Irregular combatantsSurprise attacksHigh mobilitySabotageAvoidance of direct confrontationOften used by weaker forces against more

conventionally powerful opponents

Guerrilla Warfare

And now, back to the war!

August 1955FLN massacred 123

people in Philippeville, including civilians – a change in tactics

French army responded with massive retaliation, killing thousands

Terrorism succeeded – generated tremendous support for the FLN

The Philippeville Massacre

“There were so many [dead Muslims] that they had to be buried with bulldozers.”

“European mothers were found with their throats slit and their bellies dashed open… infants in arms had their brains dashed against the wall.”

September 30, 1956: women bombed three sites in Algiers, the capital

Started a year-long guerilla campaign in Algiers

Civilian casualties; heavy-handed response

Bombings spread a sense of insecurity – war was everywhere

FLN aimed to draw more attention by attacking cities

The Battle of Algiers

FrenchTortureIllegal executionsMilitary rule – no

democracyForced

disappearancesCensorship

TortureTerrorismTargeting civilians –

especially Muslims

Atrocities (and other, less bad, things)

Algerian

Ending the War

The Return of De GaulleAlgeria and other

crises undermined faith in the French government

May 1958: angry pieds-noirs demanded the return of Charles de Gaulle to keep Algeria French

De Gaulle took over France on June 2, 1958

Why Give Up Algeria?ExpenseDomestic oppositionInternational opposition

September 1959: de Gaulle offered Algeria a vote on its future status after violence stopped

Possibility of independence angered pieds-noirs, led to unrest

Fall 1961: France began secret negotiations with FLN

March 1962: ceasefire signed

April 1962: 90% of French voters endorsed Algerian independence

July 1, 1962: Algerians voted for independence, 6 million versus 17,000

July 3, 1962: Algeria became an independent state

The End of the War

Signed March 18, 1962Provisions:

CeasefireFrance recognizes Algeria’s right to

independence and agrees to withdraw troopsAlgeria guarantees political and economic

rights to pieds-noirsViolently opposed by some radical settlersApproved by French and Algerian voters by

July 1962

The Evian Accords

Nearly 1 million Europeans left Algeria before independence

Organization de l’Armee Secrete (OAS)Founded December 3, 1960Radical French settlers dedicated to keeping

Algeria FrenchAttempted to stop the progress of Algerian

independenceAssassination attempts against de Gaulle and

SartreReprisals against supporters of France

The Aftermath

HarkisAlgerian Muslims who

fought for or supported the French

Significant contribution to the French war effort – roughly 236,000 by 1962

Many fled to France after the end of the war

Between 50,000 and 150,000 Harkis and families killed after independence