The Algerian War of Independence: Guerilla War and Decolonization Flashcards
Define guerrilla war
a war between irregular forces and established armies
How doe guerrilla forces work?
harass the enemy until the cost of pursuing the war is no longer worth the benefits
What do guerrilla tactics rely on?
rely on mobility and stealth, psychological torture (although dangerous as this puts all civilians in harms way)
What started resistance in Algeria?
o More settlers were coming to the French colony of Algeria, so France was trying to assimilate Algeria into France
Some natives resisted and attacked guerrilla-style on French troops and European settlers
Define pieds-noirs
(“black feet”) were French settlers and descendants of French settlers in Algeria (Albert Camus
What were the three sides of the Algerian war?
the French government, the pieds-noirs, and Algerian nationalists
What were the Algerian nationalists fueled by?
• Fueled by poor economic conditions for Algerian Arabs, income differentials and inaccessibility of landownership
Who was Ahmed Ben Bella?
o One of the founders of the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN)
o First president of Algeria
Who was Houari Boumedienne?
o Commander of the FLN’s military wing, the ALN, stationed in Tunisia
o President of Algeria after Ben Bella
What was Dien Bien Phu?
was a battle between the Viet Minh and the French army between March and May of 1954. This Viet Minh victory drove the French from Indochina and led to the partition of the country into North and South Vietnam
When did Algerian nationalists see opportunity?
Algerian nationalists saw opportunity after the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu
What are legionnaires?
soldiers in the French Foreign Legion, an elite formation within the French army
What was the FLN strategy?
o The FLN committed small acts such as bombings of infrastructure
What was France’s strategy?
o France sent in paratroopers and Legionnaires who conducted a campaign of assassination and retaliation against suspected FLN supporters to discourage civilian support
Define collective responsibility
o Collective Responsibility is the practice of holding all members of a population responsible for the actions of a few of its members
Led to many civilian casualties and torture of many civilians which turned French public opinion against the war
What was the Morice Line?
was a fortified barrier between Algeria and Tunisia designed to keep FLN fighters and supplies in Tunisia from getting to Algeria
What is attrition?
is the doctrine that seeks to weaken the enemy by depleting and destroying their resources, human and material, to the point that they surrender or otherwise abandon to fight
Define decolonization
is the global movement in the second half of the 20th century toward independence for territories that had been ruled as colonies of European states
Who was Jacques Massu?
Commander of the elite 10th Parachute Division stationed in Algeria who had a reputation for ferocity and determination after he authorized and encourage the use of torture and other coercive tactics
When did Algeria declare independence?
Algeria declared independence in 1962 with the FLN forming the new government
Who was Charles de Gaulle?
Soldier, politician, and statesmen in France
Founder and president of the Fifth Republic
Seen as a man of honesty and integrity
Saw a stable France that included Algeria was impossible, so he began talks with the FLN and negotiated the cease-fire agreement and the final agreement setting out Algerian independence
Who was Maurice Challe?
Commander of all French forces in Algeria in 1959
Sided with the pieds-noirs in the face of Algerian independence and he participated in the revolt of the generals
What is the Evian Accords?
an agreement, signed on March 18, 1962 between the French government and the FLN. The agreement established a permanent ceasefire in the Algerian War and the removal of French forces. It guaranteed the religious and property rights of French citizens who remained in an independent Algeria.
What are Harkis?
Harkis were Algerian Muslims who fought for the French during the Algerian War
Who mass migrated after Algerian independence?
o Mass migration of pieds-noirs ad loyal Algerians (harkis)
