Algerian+War

Declan Vick The Algerian War The Algerian War, which took place from 1954 to 1962, was the war of Algerian independence from France. As the name suggests, the war took place in Algeria and was fought by native rebels against the French. It was a brutal war that changed Algeria greatly, forever.  There were many notable events during the course of Algerian Independence.

The start of the disputes was in 1945. A protest in Algeria demanding independence resulted in the casualties of over 100 French colonists and nearly 1,000 native Muslims over the course of a couple days. No other major disturbances occurred until November 1st, 1954 when rebels of the Front de Libération Nationale, or National Liberation Front (FLN), attacked military and civilian targets throughout Algeria. The French deployed troops to monitor the situation. In August of the next year, the FLN started to target civilians, resulting in some French causalities, but, just like the protests in the 1940s, most of the deaths were Muslim. On September 30th of 1956 the FLN planted bombs in urban areas in rebellion against the French government, causing mass panic among the population. This FLN bombing started the Battle of Algiers, for control of the capital. In the coming years much fighting happened. The FLN utilized guerrilla warfare, and the French government eventually decided to grant more autonomy to the Algerians, who still wanted independence. Eventually after many years of fighting and negotiating, a deal was struck. On the 5th of July 1962, Algeria declared independence from France. In the end it is speculated that over 100,000 members of the FLN died, with the French army sustaining losses of over 25,000. Algeria's independence was a signal for the beginning of the end of France's colonial movements.

The Algerian War of Independence greatly impacted Algeria. It became its own country once again, and its citizens were finally free of the French oppression. The loss of Algeria was not favorable for France because over the following decades all of its other major holdings across the world would hear of Algeria’s success story and strive for independence.