Algerian War: Some units of European volunteers in Algiers stage an insurrection known as the "barricades week", during which they seize government buildings and clash with local police.

The Algerian War: A Defining Struggle for Independence

The Algerian War, also widely known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence, and sometimes referred to in Algeria as the War of 1 November, was a profoundly impactful armed conflict fought between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (French: Front de Libération Nationale – FLN). Spanning from November 1954 to March 1962, this pivotal struggle ultimately culminated in Algeria gaining its sovereignty from France. As a quintessential decolonization war, it was characterized by immense complexity, marked by brutal guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the FLN and systematic use of torture by French forces. Beyond a simple fight for independence, the conflict also descended into a devastating civil war, both between various Algerian communities and even within specific groups, reflecting deep ideological and ethnic divisions. While primarily fought on Algerian territory, its severe repercussions reverberated significantly across metropolitan France, deeply dividing its society and political landscape.

Genesis and Escalation of the Conflict

The conflict was effectively ignited by members of the National Liberation Front (FLN) on 1 November 1954, a day now famously known as Toussaint Rouge ("Red All Saints' Day"). This coordinated series of approximately 70 attacks across Algeria targeted French military installations, police posts, communications centers, and settler farms, signaling the start of a nationwide insurrection. The relentless nature of the war led to profound political instability and serious crises in France itself, most notably causing the collapse of the Fourth Republic (1946–58). This institutional upheaval paved the way for the establishment of the Fifth Republic, characterized by a significantly strengthened presidency under Charles de Gaulle. The increasingly brutal methods employed by French forces, including widespread torture, forced displacement into "regroupment camps," and indiscriminate reprisals, were counterproductive. These tactics not only failed to win the "hearts and minds" of the Algerian population but also alienated public support within metropolitan France and severely damaged France's international prestige. As the war protracted, French public opinion slowly but steadily turned against the conflict, and many of France's key international allies, including the United States, shifted their stance from outright support for France to abstaining in crucial United Nations debates concerning Algerian self-determination. Significant demonstrations in Algiers and several other cities in 1960, unequivocally demanding independence, coupled with a United Nations resolution acknowledging Algeria's inherent right to self-determination, further pressured France. It was against this backdrop that Charles de Gaulle, as the first president of the Fifth Republic, made the strategic decision to initiate a series of negotiations with the FLN, which eventually culminated in the historic signing of the Évian Accords in March 1962.

Key Milestones Towards Algerian Independence

The Évian Accords and French Political Turmoil

Following the signing of the Évian Accords, a crucial referendum was held in metropolitan France on 8 April 1962, where the French electorate overwhelmingly approved the agreement. The final result saw a decisive 91% vote in favor of ratifying the accords, underscoring a broad public desire for an end to the protracted conflict. Subsequently, on 1 July 1962, the Évian Accords were subjected to a second, conclusive referendum in Algeria itself. The results were nearly unanimous: an astounding 99.72% voted for immediate independence, with only 0.28% against, formally sealing Algeria's destiny as an independent nation. However, the planned French withdrawal and the prospect of an independent Algeria triggered a profound state crisis within France. This period was marked by numerous assassination attempts on President de Gaulle, largely orchestrated by ultra-nationalist factions who violently opposed Algerian independence. There were also several attempts at military coups, primarily by disgruntled army officers who felt betrayed by de Gaulle's policy. Most of the assassination attempts and acts of terrorism were carried out by the Organisation armée secrète (OAS), a clandestine paramilitary organization formed predominantly from elements of the French military, police, and European-Algerian settlers vehemently committed to maintaining "French Algeria." The OAS unleashed a wave of bombings, assassinations, and violence both in Algeria and within France, aiming to disrupt the independence process and ignite a civil war.

What was the Organisation armée secrète (OAS)?

The OAS was a far-right paramilitary organization that emerged during the latter stages of the Algerian War. Composed mainly of French military personnel, pieds-noirs (European-Algerian settlers), and right-wing extremists, its primary objective was to prevent Algeria's independence from France through any means necessary, including widespread terrorism. They targeted both French and Algerian officials, FLN members, and civilians.

The Aftermath: Exodus, Displacement, and Lingering Legacies

Upon Algeria's independence in 1962, the immediate aftermath witnessed a dramatic and sudden demographic shift. Approximately 900,000 European-Algerians, colloquially known as Pieds-noirs (literally "black feet," referring to their dark boots), fled to France within a matter of months. This mass exodus was driven by a profound fear of FLN reprisals and uncertainty about their future in an independent Algeria. The French government was largely unprepared for the sheer scale of this influx of refugees, leading to significant social and economic turmoil, including housing shortages and integration challenges across France. The fate of Algerian Muslims who had collaborated with or served the French during the war was far more tragic. While the Évian Accords stipulated that no actions could be taken against them, many, particularly the Harkis, were left behind. The Harkis were Algerian Muslim auxiliaries who had fought alongside the French army against the FLN. They were widely regarded as traitors by the newly independent Algerian state and were consequently subjected to brutal reprisals, with many being murdered by the FLN or by vengeful lynch mobs, often after being abducted and tortured. Although official French policy largely abandoned them, an estimated 90,000 Harkis managed to flee to France, sometimes with the courageous, albeit unauthorized, assistance of their former French officers. Today, these Harkis and their descendants constitute a significant and distinct part of the Algerian-French population, carrying the complex legacy of a conflict that continues to shape identity and memory in both France and Algeria.