ALGERIAN WAR OF DECOLONIZATION

1. ALGERIAN WAR OF DECOLONIZATION • 1954-1962

2. Objectives • Understand the factors that contributed the Algerian War of Decolonization • Compare the war for independence to similar struggles in Vietnam and China

3. French Colonial Legacy • Like Vietnam, Algeria was a colony of France since the 1800s • A significant number--about one million--people in Algeria were French settlers. They were referred as the colons (pieds noirs) • France’s policy in Algeria was one of assimilation; France considered Algeria to be part of department France

4. Algeria was a departement of France, and thereotically, had equality with the rest of France • In reality, however, this was not the case, especially for the native Algerians • the colons owned most of the land and had the best educational advantages • also, France restricted economic development in Algeria because of fear of competition

5. Impact of WWII • WWII had made the colonial powers seem vulnerable • Also, during WWII, the Japanese encouraged nationalism through promoting anti-European propaganda and trying to coopt the local population • the establishment of the UN, with its emphasis on human rights and freedoms, also challenged imperialism

6. After WWII • In 1942, Fehrat Abbas, a Muslim Algerian activist, demanded the abolition of colonialism and self-government for Algerians • In 1944, Charles DeGaulle, leader of the Free French organizes a conference in Brazzaville (Congo) that promoted the idea of a “French Community.” However, this did not mean that France wished to give up its colonial Empire

7. Era of Broken Promises • After WWII ended, anti-French protests erupted in the Muslim town of Setif • After Europeans there were attacked, the French responded with revenge • about 40-50 thousand Algerian nationalists as France restored colonial order • in 1946, the French Empire was renamed the French Union • Greater autonomy was given to Algeria, although there was still no independence • Muslims were given political participation and representation, but it did not match the size of their population (90 percent of the total) • Half of the political representation in the Algerian assembly was given to Europeans, as was half of the Algerian political representation in Paris • Most of the colony’s administrators were European • Elections were rigged

8. Algerian Response to French Broken Promises • In 1954, the Fronte de Liberation Nationale was established by Algerian Nationalists with the goal of ending French colonial power • Its leaders were Fehrat Abbas and Ben Bella • Its goal was to wage a guerilla war against the French and achieve Algerian independence

9. The Outbreak of WAr • War in Algeria breaks out in 1954 with the initial attack by the FLN • A serious attack on the French takes place at Philippeville in 1955 • As a result of the attack, France reinforces its 50,000 troops in Algeria and a liberal governor-general, Jacques Soustelle, who then tries to initiate economic and political reforms • the situations worsens however, and the FLN gains supports among the local population • at the same time, however, the colons become disenchanted with Soustelle and replace him with a less liberal governor named Robert Lacoste

10. Nature of Fighting • The army had just been humiliated at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and was intent upon regaining its honor • The army, like the colons, believed that Algeria needed to remain under French control • the French used helicopters to try to fight the FLN’s guerilla tactics • The FLN used terrorist tactics to make sure that the civilian population did not support the French authorities. Unlike the Communists in Vietnam fighting the French, the FLN lacked a strong regular army and did not have a place like China for sanctuary and support • The French responded with similar tactics • This served to radicalize both sides and, also, it divided the French population at home.

11. International Support for the FLN • The UN put pressure on the French to revise their policy in Algeria • Weapons from the FLN came from Arab nations, and Britain and the US • The FLN sent delegates to Western and Eastern Europe, the US, China, India, and Latin America in order to gain support • The issue was also discussed at the Bandung Conference in 1955 (the conference which saw the establishment of the nonaligned movement)

12. Battle of Algiers • In September 1956, the FLN launches an attack on Algiers, the capital of Algeria. They hope to gain international attention to their cause • Colons, the army, and Arab collaborators are targeted • This was a change in strategy for the FLN as they move into the cities • the Battle of Algiers is marked by brutality on both sides • the French army is given civilian police power by Lacoste to destroy FLN hideouts

13. RESULTS • As a result of the Battle of Algiers, the FLN gains increasing support from the outside world, especially the Communist bloc • following the independence of Morocco and Tunisia in 1958, the FLN is able to gain sanctuary in those two nations • in 1958, the FLN establishes a provisional Algerian government in Tunis (Tunisia) with Fehrat Abbas as Prime Minister • the French respond by building guarded security fences along the borders with Morocco and Tunisia. • before the war ended, French troop size in Algeria would grow to 500,000

14. Impact on France • The power of the French Army grows in Algeria • The French face increasing condemnation internationally • No solution to the crisis seems to be in sight • A political crisis erupts in France • The army concludes that it cannot support the French civilian government to keep Algeria under control • when a new French government under Pierre Pflimlin comes to power in Paris, it has limited sympathy for the colons • As a result, massive protests supported by the colons and the French army break out in Algiers. Political power in Algeria is taken over by the military there, who are supported by the colons

15. Charles DeGaulle • As the crisis over Algeria intensifies, the French National Assembly votes to end the Fourth Republic. They ask Charles deGaulle to take over power and gave him wide power to solve the crisis • DeGaulle was popular with the colons; as well, he was respected by many North Africans

16. de Gaulle’s aims • de Gaulle realized that the French could not sustain their power in North Africa • he also realized that negotiations with the FLN needed to happen and that full independence was almost inevitable for Algeria

17. De Gaulle takes charge • first, he brings Algeria back under the control of the civilian government in Paris • second, he attacks the FLN so that they will negotiate • third he offers the following options for Algeria: secession, integration, or a federal relationship in France in which France would have assistance with the economy and education • DeGaulle was basically acknowledging the existence of an Algerian Algeria

18. Reaction of the Colons and the Army • in 1960, the colon Ultras riot and erect barricades in Algeria to protest de Gaulle’s policy. This was called the Barricades Week • the army in Algeria took no action to stop the violence • however, deGaulle refuses to cave in and suggest that his plans were to establish an Algerian Algeria • after a 1961 referendum, the voters of France opt to support deGaulle and he begins to negotiate with the FLN

19. Army Revolt • A faction of the French army seizes control of Algiers during the Generals Insurrection • However, de Gaulle is able to defuse the crisis, appealing to the army through radio • the Ultras then form an underground army called the OAS (Organization of the Secret Army) • They employ terrorist tactics in both France and Algeria, even organizing an attempted suicide on deGaulle’s life • Such tactis fail to gain them popularity with the French people

20. Peace Talks • At the second peace talks in Evian, deGaulle makes far reaching concessions • Algeria was given control of the Sahara region, which was rich in oil • the rights of French citizens in Algeria were protected for three years. As well, France promised economic and technical assistance for the same time period • the French military would leave Algeria after three years

21. RESULTS • 250,000 Algerians killed and many have their property destroyed • colons leave Algeria • a civil war in Algeria takes place and Ben Bella becomes a dictatorial leader, purging other rebels such as Fehrat Abbas • Living conditions in Algeria do not improve

22. Results • one million colons leave Algeria • their lands and businesses were expropriated by the new Algerian government • Harkis (or Algerians who worked for the French) were massacred or went to France

23. France • Algeria was France’s last war of decolonization • the war consumed over half of the French military budget from 1954-1962 • after the war, the French economy improved as France began focusing on Europe and not an overseas empire