Figure 1.--The indepence celebrations in Algeria began as the referendum approached. The press caption read, "Ready for the Big Day in Algiers: Moslem children in the Casbah, native quarter in Algiers, display the new Algerian flag and prepare paper streamers today for Sunday's referendum, expected to be overwealmingly in favor of indpndence from France. The natives plan to decorate the streets as part of the planned celebration." The photograph was dated June 29, 1962.

After the Évian Accords and cease fire (March 1962), the OAS unleashed a savage new terror campaign. The OAS hoped to provoke the FLN into a major breach in the ceasefire. Targets included both Muslim Algerians and the French Army and police enforcing the accords. It proved to be the most bloody period of the War. The OAS attacks caused incoherent carnage. OAS agents set off some 20 bombs daily in March. The attacks included soft targets like hospitals and schools. Algeria as agreed in the Évian Accords held the agreed referendum (July 1, 1962). The recorded vote was some 6 million for independence and only 16,000 opposed. We are not sure how accurate the count was, but there is no doubt that the great bulk of the Algerian people opted for indeendence. More certainly were opposed, but had either left or were in hiding. The announced results resulted in 3 days of jubilent celebrations by Algerian Muslims. The GPRA entered Algiers to the triumphant aclaim of the city. France as promised granted idepndence and recognized the GPRA. The Europeans departed en mass. Some 0.9 million French settlers returning to France. De Gaulle proved very tough. His prestige overted civil war. The pied-noirs fled in masse to France. Some 1.4 million refugees, including almost the Jewish community, joined the exodus to France. Algeria formally declared independence (July 5). French military forces as allowed under the Évian Accords did not completely leave for some time. The last French forces departed thenaval base at Mers El Kébir (1967). France was finally separated from Algeria and the Algerians had Algérie algérienne. Independence was one thing, prosperity would prove a different matter. Most Algerians believed that independence would automtically bring prosperoty. The FLN ledership was convinced that socialism was the key to the future. Both would be sorely disappointed.

OAS Terror (March-June)

After the Évian Accords and cease fire (March 1962), the OAS unleashed a savage new terror campaign. The OAS hoped to provoke the FLN into a major breach in the ceasefire. Targets included both Muslim Algerians and the French Army and police enforcing the accords. It proved to be the most bloody period of the War. The OAS attacks caused incoherent carnage. OAS agents set off some 20 bombs daily in March. The attacks included soft targets like hospitals and schools.

Independence Referendum (July 1)

A Provisional Executive was installed at “Rocher Noir” (Boumèrdes) (April 1962). The Provisional Government administere a referendum on self-determination (July 1, 1962). Algeria as agreed in the Évian Accords held the agreed referendum (July 1, 1962). The recorded vote was some 6 million for independence and only 16,000 opposed. We are not sure how accurate the count was, but there is no doubt that the great bulk of the Algerian people opted for independence. More certainly were opposed, but had either left or were in hiding. It was not a good time to be pro French.

Celebrations

The announced results resulted in 3 days of jubilent celebrations by Algerian Muslims. The GPRA entered Algiers to tte triumphant aclaim of the city.

French Recognition

France as promised granted idepndence and recognized the GPRA. The Europeans departed en mass.

French Exodus

A massive exodus from Algeria began once it became increasingly clear that Algeria was going to sever its more than a century long relationship with France and become an independent nation. [Shepard, pp. 213–240] There were three gtoups involved. The largest group were the Pieds-Noirs, the French ethnic population composed of families that began settling in Algeria when France colonized Algeria (1840s). The other group was the harkis, Muslimethnic Aherians who fought on the French side in the Algerian Independence War. The third groups were the Jews, many but not all descended from the Sephardic Jews expelled by Spain in the 15th century. It did not become widely understood that Algeria was going to become independent until 1961. The morale of Pieds-Noirs quickly collapsed. A combination of changing French policy and the violence undeminded the morale of the Pieds-Noirs. Perhaps even more unsetting was the changing attitude of the French people. Many began to see the Pieds-Noirs as guilty of "terrorism, torture, colonial racism, and ongoing violence in general". [Shepard, pp. 213–240] For many it became clear that there was not future for them in Algeria. Some 1.4 million refugees, including almost the Jewish community, joined the exodus to France.

Independence (July 5)

Algeria formally declared independence (July 5).

French Military Bases

French military forces as allowed under the Évian Accords did not completely leave for some time. The last French forces departed the naval base at Mers El Kébir (1967). Actually this was much earlier than had been anticipated in the Évian Accords

FLN Governmeny

France was finally separated from Algeria and the Algerians had Algérie algérienne. Independence was one thing, prosperity would prove a different matter. Most Algerians believed that independence would automtically bring prosperoty. The FLN ledership was convinced that socialism was the key to the future. Both would be sorely disappointed. The country held an election for the first constituent assembly (September 20). The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria was proclaimed (September 25). The new Constitution was released (September 29). Algeria was admitted to the United Nations (October 8). A referendum approved the new constitution (May 8, 1963). Independence leader Ahmed Ben Bella was elected Algeria's first president (September 15, 1963). The FLN Third Congress adopted the Charter of Algiers (April 1964). The new Government created the Council of the Revolution which was presided over by Houari Boumediene (June 19, 1965). The FLN Government like many other newly independent governments embraced socialism. An early step was the nationalization of mines (May 7, 1966). The FLN for a time developed close relations with the Soviets. The FLN adopted a range of Soviet inspired economic policies which proved to be economic disasters. The bright hope of independence gradually was lost in wide-spread poverty and economic decline.

Comments

A CIH reader writes. "Amazing the number of assassinations and bombings the OAS were able to carry out. I remember this as a boy the war from TV coverage but did not understand what it was all about. Some quite horrific violence was inflicted on both sides." We are not sure who carried out the most assasinations. It was surely the OAS in this period just before independence. Saddly the bright hopes of independence have in Algeria and many other countries been so commonly disapponted. Some of the African and Asian countries are now figuring out what went wrong. Unfortunately, we do not see that in Algeria and other Muslim countries.

Sources

Shepard, Todd. The Invention of Decolonization: The Algerian War And the Remaking of France (Cornell University Press: 2006).

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Created: 7:30 AM 3/2/2017
Last updated: 7:30 AM 3/2/2017