Battle of Algiers

The Battle of Algiers was a campaign of guerrilla warfare carried out by the National Liberation Front (FLN) against French rule in 1957. The conflict began as a series of hit-and-run attacks by the FLN against the French Police in Algiers. Violence escalated when the French government deployed the French Army in Algiers to suppress the FLN. Civilian authorities left all prerogatives to general Massu who, operating outside legal frameworks betwee... more

The Battle of Algiers was a campaign of guerrilla warfare carried out by the National Liberation Front (FLN) against French rule in 1957. The conflict began as a series of hit-and-run attacks by the FLN against the French Police in Algiers. Violence escalated when the French government deployed the French Army in Algiers to suppress the FLN. Civilian authorities left all prerogatives to general Massu who, operating outside legal frameworks between January and March 1957, successfully eliminated the FLN from Algiers. The use of torture resulted in a backlash against French presence in Algeria, triggered a controversy in France, and stimulated international support for the FLN. In March 1955, Rabah Bitat, head of the FLN in Algiers, was arrested by the French. Abane Ramdane, recently freed from prison, was sent from Kabylie to take the political direction of the city in hand. In a short time, Ramdane managed to revive the FLN in Algiers. On August 20, 1955, violence broke out around... less