Algerian War of Independence

What happened

The Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962) was one of the 20th century's bloodiest colonial conflicts. French Algeria, a settler colony with about 1 million French colonists, was considered part of metropolitan France. The National Liberation Front (FLN), representing the Muslim majority (9 million), launched an armed uprising. The French responded with massive military force: 500,000 troops, torture, massacres, and forced relocations. The FLN used guerrilla warfare, terrorism, and political organization. International pressure—particularly UN debate and Cold War alignment—eventually forced France to negotiate. The Evian Accords (1962) granted Algerian independence; nearly 1-2 million Algerians and 24,000 French soldiers died in the conflict.

Why it mattered

The Algerian War was the most destructive conflict in post-World War II decolonization. The war demonstrated the limits of European colonialism against determined nationalist movements. The conflict exposed French brutality and torture (used systematically), shocking international opinion. Algerian victory provided a model for other anti-colonial movements. The war's aftermath included a refugee crisis (1 million French colonists fled Algeria) and ongoing Franco-Algerian tensions. The conflict permanently altered European-African relations.