Algerian Revolution: The War of Liberation (1954-1962)

Algerian Revolution: The War of Liberation (1954-1962)

Initial Phase (1954-1958)

  • FLN Founding Leaders:
    • Photograph taken in late 1954 in Algiers before the revolution began on November 1, 1954.
    • Key founders and organizers.
    • Ahmed Ben Bella was in Cairo, serving as the contact point between the FLN and the Egyptian government.
  • Egyptian Support:
    • Egypt was the FLN's first international ally.
    • The FLN's declaration of war on French colonialism was broadcast by Egyptian radio on November 1, 1954.
  • FLN Founders Profile:
    • Many were former members of Masali Hajj's PPP.
    • Socioeconomic background: Middle class of Muslim Algeria.
    • Education: Secondary level education, with some having university education.
    • Geographic Origin: Mid-sized provincial towns.
    • Military Experience: Some, including Ben Bella, fought in World War II for the French army.
    • Past Rebellion Experience: Some participated in the failed 1950-1951 OS (Organisation Secrete) rebellion.
  • Motivations for Forming the FLN:
    • Rejection of French colonialism and the political status quo in Muslim Algeria.
    • Advocacy for independence or self-determination.
    • Impatient with established politicians like Massali, viewing them as too slow.
    • Emphasis on armed resistance and rebellion.
    • Inspiration from the Vietnamese nationalists' victory against the French in 1954, particularly the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.
    • Inspiration from the Irish War of Independence against the British.
    • Defining themselves through action and a willingness to fight, rather than engage in political discourse.
    • Deliberate vagueness about long-term goals and ideology to avoid internal disputes.
    • Emphasis on guerrilla warfare.
    • Initial Forces: A few hundred fighters, lacking sufficient arms.
    • Initial Attacks: Small-scale attacks on November 1, 1954, aimed at acquiring weapons.
  • Initial Impact and Challenges:
    • The FLN was initially unknown; their emergence surprised most Algerians.
    • The French responded with strong repression, arresting and killing many early members.
    • The FLN faced a critical period in the first year and a half, struggling to gain support faster than they were losing members.

Mid-War Developments (1956-1958)

  • FLN Survival:
    • The FLN narrowly avoided being wiped out in the early stages.
  • Soummam Congress (August 1956):
    • Key leaders met in the Soummam Valley to reorganize and establish a clear strategy.
    • Key Principles Established:
      • Politics over Military: The primary goal was political victory, with military actions serving a political purpose.
        • Recognizing the French military strength and determination to hold Algeria.
        • Acknowledged that a complete military victory was unlikely.
      • Total National Unity: The FLN declared itself the sole legitimate political force in Algeria.
        • Demanding that Algerians either join the FLN or be considered supporters of the French.
      • Impact:
        • Successfully changed the political landscape of Algeria.
        • Forced other political figures, such as Ferhat Abbas, to join the FLN.
        • Masali Hajj refused to join, leading to infighting between the FLN and his movement, the MNA.
  • Battle of Algiers (1957-1958):
    • Intensified urban guerrilla fighting in Algiers to gain international attention.
    • The film "The Battle of Algiers" depicts this period.

Turning Points in 1958

  • Collapse of the French Government:
    • The war in Algeria led to the collapse of the French political system.
    • Charles de Gaulle came out of retirement and established the Fifth Republic with a more powerful presidency.
  • Formation of the GPRA (Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic):
    • The FLN created the GPRA to escalate their diplomatic strategy.
    • Ferhat Abbas became the first president of the GPRA.
    • The GPRA sought diplomatic recognition from foreign governments to strengthen their position.

Late Phase (1959-1962) and Diplomatic Strategy

  • Intensified French Counterinsurgency:
    • De Gaulle redoubled France's commitment to the war.
  • Diplomatic Battlegrounds:
    • United Nations (New York):
      • Sympathetic Arab governments introduced motions criticizing French policy.
      • France used its veto power in the Security Council.
      • The United States, as a NATO ally, often vetoed FLN-friendly resolutions to support France.
    • Practical and Military Support:
      • Arab countries, particularly Egypt, provided initial support.
      • The FLN sought support from communist countries, including the Soviet Union and Communist China, from 1958.
      • The Algerian War became entangled in the Cold War.
    • Decolonization in Africa:
      • The independence of Ghana in 1957, and subsequent independence movements in other African countries inspired by the Algerian revolution.
      • New African nations offered support to the FLN.
  • Scale of the War (French Perspective):
    • France deployed a significant number of troops to Algeria.
    • By late 1956, approximately 600,000 armed men (including soldiers from other French territories and local Algerian militias) were fighting for France.
    • This was a much larger military effort than seen in later conflicts such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
  • FLN Numbers
    • The ALN's numbers, reached around 30,000 fighters.
    • French built elaborate frontier fortifications which was a problem for the ALN.

Political Violence and FLN Strategy

  • Philippeville Massacre (August 1955):
    • The FLN attacked and killed over 100 Pied-Noir civilians.
    • This was a deliberate strategy to provoke a harsh French response.
    • The French military retaliated by killing thousands of Muslims in nearby villages.
    • The FLN calculated that this would polarize the population and rally more Algerians to their cause.
    • Political violence was a means to change the political landscape.
  • French Propaganda:
    • The French emphasized FLN atrocities to discredit them as thugs and criminals.
  • Complementary Strategies:
    • The FLN integrated violence, international diplomacy, and efforts to provide civil services for the Algerian population.
    • These efforts aimed to create an underground governmental capacity.
  • ALN (Armee de Liberation Nationale):
    • The predominantly guerrilla army fought in the countryside.
    • The French used helicopters to hunt them down.
    • After 1956, the FLN created training camps in Morocco and Tunisia.
  • Female Recruits:
    • The FLN and French appealed for the loyalty of Algerian women.

GPRA and International Support

  • GPRA's Diplomatic Efforts:
    • Sought recognition and support from foreign governments and international public opinion.
    • Exploiting Cold War tensions, seeking support from communist countries.
      Decolonization of Africa created new opportunities for diplomatic support.
  • FLM Brochure (1957):
    • Produced in English for circulation at the UN headquarters to highlight the Algerian cause.
    • Countering French claims that it was an internal problem.

Map of FLN Presence and Influence

  • Orange Countries (September 1958):
    • Recognized GPRA immediately.
  • Yellow Countries (1959-1960):
    • Recognized GPRA later.
  • Diamonds:
    • Countries allowing GPRA to maintain missions.
    • The United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, reflecting a shift in international sentiment.

Pro FLN Demonstrations Break Out

  • December 1960, huge protests break out in Algiers.
    • Major turning point because France now realizes that the FLN has widespread popular support in Algeria.

Conclusion

  • FLN's Revolutionary Strategy:
    • A small organization launching a war against France with limited resources.
    • Lack of preparation before the first attack.
    • Soummam Conference in 1956 focused on internal strategy and organization.
  • Power of Revolutionary Methods:
    • France deployed hundreds of thousands of troops and spent a fortune to hold Algeria.
    • Historical context: Anti-colonial sentiment favored revolutionary movements.
  • FLN as an Inspiration:
    • Inspired other movements, showing that preparation and planning were not always necessary.
  • It is a dramatic demonstration of how powerful these revolutionary strategies can be.
  • **Revolutionary discourse spread elsewhere in the world such as Southern Africa.