Date and Location: Blustery February day in southern France, cemetery gathering.
Purpose of Gathering: To mourn the loss of Algeria as a French colony and remember the veterans who resorted to violence to maintain it.
Historical Context: Algeria gained independence from France in 1962 after an eight-year war, known as "La guerre sans nom" (the war without a name).
Historical Background
Colonization:
Algeria was colonized by France in the 19th century.
Considered a part of France, unlike Tunisia and Morocco.
Over a million European settlers were in Algeria by mid-20th century.
Disparities in Rights:
European settlers enjoyed French citizenship privileges.
Arab and Berber Muslims faced significant discrimination and lack of rights.
The Outbreak of War
FLN Formation:
In 1954, a group of Algerians formed the National Liberation Front (FLN) to fight for independence from France.
Initial Attacks:
On November 1, 1954, the FLN launched attacks against French military and civilian targets.
French Response:
The French government viewed the FLN's actions as civil unrest, not war.
Troops were sent to suppress the uprising without acknowledging a war was occurring.
Soldiers' Experiences
Military Service:
All French men were required to serve in the military.
Confrontations with FLN:
Soldiers faced moral dilemmas about their mission and the treatment of Algerians.
Violence:
Accounts of witnessing atrocities, including torture and executions of FLN suspects by French soldiers and harkis (Muslim Algerians who fought for France).
The Battle of Algiers
Escalation of Violence:
By late 1956, the FLN intensified urban attacks, leading to the infamous Battle of Algiers.
Harsh French Tactics:
France deployed elite forces to suppress FLN attacks, resulting in widespread torture and human rights abuses.
Shift in Public Opinion
Awareness and Protests:
Reports and articles by veterans began to raise awareness of the violence and torture used in Algeria.
Political Crisis in France:
A military coup in Algiers in 1958 aimed to restore control under General Charles de Gaulle.
Independence and Aftermath
Algerian Independence:
On July 5, 1962, Algeria gained independence after a war that cost approximately a million Algerian lives.
Violence Against Settlers:
Following independence, around 1.5 million European settlers fled Algeria due to violence and reprisals against them.
The Legacy of the War
Post-War Dynamics:
Former French soldiers and harkis faced discrimination and violence in Algeria post-independence.
Many harkis were disarmed and abandoned by the French army, leading to significant suffering.
Shift in Algerian Identity:
Ongoing resentment towards harkis among Algerians and the stigma surrounding their identity in France.
Recognizing the War
Official Silence and Acknowledgment:
The French state maintained silence on the war for decades.
In 1999, France officially acknowledged that a war took place.
Controversy Over Accountability:
General Paul Osorès's admission of torture practices underscored the complexities of state responsibility and denial.
The French government faced criticism for its handling of war crimes and the treatment of veterans and harkis.
Conclusion
Continued Tensions:
The legacy of the Algerian War continues to affect Franco-Algerian relations and the Muslim community in France.
The need for recognition and accountability remains a significant issue for many affected by the war.