The Algerian Revolution

The Algerian Revolution was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria gaining its independence from France. An important decolonization war, it was a complex conflict characterized by guerrilla warfare, maquis fighting, terrorism against civilians, the use of torture on both sides, and counter-terrorism operations by the French Army. The conflict was also a civil war between loyalist Algerians who believed in a French Algeria and their insurrectionist Algerian Muslim counterparts.

On November 1st 1954, the “Toussaint rouge”, a Series of attacks was led by the FLN (National Liberation Front) against French interests and pro-French Muslims. Created by Ben Bella, the FLN is going to take the advantage, little by little, on the other independence movements. France leads then a Politics of firmness in Algeria. This politics of repression is supported by the million Algerian “pied-noir”. On both sides, cruelty exploded: massacre of pro-French Muslim civilians by the FLN, use of torture by parachutists of the French army… The conflict is total and no political solution succeeds in front of partisans of French Algeria and of that of the independence movements.

The general de Gaulle is called back in 1958, but the situation is delicate. The FLN does not succeed in imposing militarily in front of the French army, but gains more and more partisans. De Gaulle quickly notices the impossibility to end has the war. He begins negotiation with the FLN. In 1961, French approve in 90 % by referendum the self-determination of Algeria. The process of emancipation ends in the independence of the country during agreement of Evian signed in 1962. The “pied-noirs” had to leave Algeria from 1961 as well as most of the harki (partisan Algerians of French Algeria)

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