BELLWORK

1. BELLWORK • Why did the FLN use guerilla warfare? • How did the FLN gain international support? What international aide was offered to them? • Explain the effects of the Battle of Algiers. • How did the conflict in Algeria change once de Gaulle was appointed as the new leader of France? • What was the OAS? What were they used for in Algeria? • List three decisions made between Algeria and de Gaulle during the peace talks. • Explain the effects of the Algerian War for France/Algeria. • THINKER: Why do you think the Algerian Civil War was not recognized as a “war” by the French government?

3. Guerilla Warfare • By 1957, FLN evolved into a disciplined fighting force of 40,000 • Used assortment of hunting rifles and discarded French, German, and American weapons • More than half were organized and stationed in Moroccan and Tunisian sanctuaries, where they served primarily to divert some French manpower • Applied hit-and-run tactics • Some attacks were aimed at military targets, but a significant amount was invested in a terror campaign against those in any way deemed to be supporting or encouraging French authority. • This resulted in acts of sadistic torture and brutal violence against all, including women and children. • Specializing in ambushes and night raids and avoiding direct contact with superior French firepower, the internal forces targeted army patrols, military encampments, police posts, and colonial farms, mines, and factories, as well as transportation and communications facilities. • Kidnapping was commonplace, as were the ritual murder and mutilation of civilians

4. Use of Torture • FLN used extreme violence & torture, especially against pro-French and uncommitted members of the Muslim population • How did the French respond? • Henri Alleg's book detailed the various torture methods, among which the famous gégène, an electricity generator initially used for telephone purposes • Sleep deprivation & food deprivation (blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions) • The French military also buried alive old men & did mass executions

5. Use of Torture • "The interrogatories is done in accordance with the provisional guide of the intelligence agent (Guide provisoire de l'officier de renseignement, OR), chapter IV: first, the officer questions the prisoner in the "traditional" manner, hitting him with fist and kicking him. Then follows torture: hanging..., water torture..., electricity..., burning (using cigarettes, etc.)... Cases of prisoners who were driven insane were frequent... Between interrogation sessions, the suspects are imprisoned without food in cells, some of which were small enough to impede lying down. We must point out that some of them were very young teenagers and others old men of 75, 80 years or more”

6. Battle of Algiers • To increase international and domestic French attention to their struggle, the FLN decided to bring the conflict to the cities • The Battle of Algiers (September 30, 1956) began when three women, simultaneously placed bombs at three sites • French Army was instructed to use whatever methods necessary to restore order • The FLN succeeded in showing its ability to strike at the heart of French Algeria • The publicity given to the brutal methods created doubt in France about its role in Algeria. What was originally "pacification" or a "public order operation" had turned into a colonial war accompanied by torture. • French Soldier killing fleeing Algerian while journalists were present

7. Charles De Gaulle

8. Role of the Media • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GoAIhFNZ6Y

9. Barricades Week