Abstract
In 1954, the discontent displayed by Algerian rebels, the Front de Libération National, demanding independence, turned into war and was not settled until 1962, with the involvement of the French national hero, General de Gaulle. The situation in Algeria was different to that in Tunisia or even Morocco due to the fact that Algeria was an integral department of France and not a colony. “The rebellion of 1954 became a war because a numerically dominant but economically and politically backward Moslem population, in a large, strategically situated territory, geographically very close to France, sought independence from her, while a minority mainly of European origin, politically, economically and administratively dominant, wanted passionately to remain French”1. Due to France suffering defeat in Europe in 1940, and in Indochina 14 years later, accompanied by the loss of Tunisia and Morocco, it was particularly important for their national esteem that they be on the victorious side in the Algerian crisis. Therefore “in 1958 the Fourth Republic handed over to General de Gaulle the whole insoluble problem of Algeria”2 as General de Gaulle was deemed the only man possible to solve the situation and avert a civil war.
