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Setif Massacre
•• May 8 1945, Nine years before the official start of the Algerian war, France was celebrating the allied victory over the axis powers and the liberation of France itself. In France’s various and wide spread colonies unrest and talks of gaining independence from France were spreading, particularly in Algeria. On May 8th Muslim Algerians gathered to celebrate the end of the war in the town of Setif, quickly events turned sour when clashes broke between the Algerians and local French police. -
May 8 to 14 1945 French Forces begin suppression.
Rioting soon began that resulted in many deaths including over 100 French civilians who were caught in the cross-fire or targeted by the rioters. In response to these events French forces began a campaign of suppression that resulted in the deaths of between 1,000 to 45,000 Algerians. This event would set the stage for the inevitable call for independence nine years later. -
A proclamation by the FLN
• The FLN who were the revolutionaries who fought for Algerian independence begin a guerrilla war against French forces. France in response steps up military deployment to Algeria. -
Battle of Philippevile
• FLN leadership began to believe that Algerian moderates who wanted to negotiate with the French would compromise the revolution. They then planed an attack on the town of Philippeville again causing the deaths of many Algerians and French civilians. This again lead to a reprisal were around 1500 Algerians were killed by French forces and revenge mobs. -
Battle of Algiers
When three women place bombs in various locations around algiers. A battle bewteen French and FLN forces begins. • The widespread use of torture by both sides but particularly the French cause widespread anger in Algeria and in France. -
May 1958 Crisis
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• A mob of Pied Noirs storm the governor-general’s office, which results in a coup by army officers. The crisis is ended when is Charles de Gaulle is elected as leader. This event would in the end lead to the establishment of the French fifth republic. -
De Gaulles Reign
• De Gaulle is elected the President of the brand new fifth republic and will be the President to oversee the end of the war and Algerian independence. -
French referendum on Algerian self-determination
• A referendum is held in France with the question “Do you approve the bill submitted to the French people by the President of the Republic and concerning the self-determination of the populations of Algeria and the organization of the public authorities in Algeria prior to self-determination". The referendum is passed in favor of self-determination at 75% yes. -
Attempted Coup
• Angered by De Gaulle’s continued negotiations with the FLN, four French generals stage an unsuccessful coup, which ends with their arrests. Their failure to muster support for the coup reflected the overall French peoples disgust and wariness with the war and the inevitable independence of Algeria. -
French Évian Accords referendum, 1962
• Algeria finally votes for independence with 99% of the vote going to yes. The pied noirs flee Algeria and the war ends.
