NCJ Number
62616
Date Published
1970
Length
508 pages
Annotation
EVENTS, GROUPS, AND PERSONALITIES ENGAGED IN THE LAST YEAR (1961-62) OF THE VIOLENT STRUGGLE PRECEDING ALGERIAN INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE ARE RECOUNTED IN THIS DRAMATIC NARRATIVE.
Abstract
THE FINAL YEAR OF THE WAR FOR ALGERIAN INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE PROVED TO BE A VICIOUS SERIES OF BATTLES AND ATTACKS IN ALGERIAN CITIES IN CONTRAST TO THE PREVIOUS SPORADIC CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FRENCH ARMY AND THE FLN (NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT) IN MOUNTAINS, RAVINES, AND IMPOVERISHED SETTLEMENTS. IT WAS A WAR OF UNDERGROUND NETWORKS, GUNMEN, DESERTERS, POLICE INFORMERS, LIAISON AGENTS, AND DOUBLE AGENTS. EVENTUALLY THIS NEW WAR SPREAD TO FRANCE AND AFFECTED NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES--SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, AND BELGIUM. IT WAS CENTERED, HOWEVER, IN ALGERIA'S COASTAL CITIES. THE FINAL YEAR OF FRENCH ALGERIA SAW THE CULMINATION OF INCREASINGLY UNBEARABLE PRESSURES, FRUSTRATIONS, AND MISCALCULATIONS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 1961, THREE GROUPS FOUND THEMSELVES UPON A COLLISION COURSE--MOSLEMS WHO WANTED ALGERIA INDEPENDENT, EUROPEANS DETERMINED TO PREVENT IT AT ALL COST, AND THE FRENCH ARMY, WHICH WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. ON JULY 1, 1962, ELIGIBLE ALGERIANS VOTED FOR INDEPENDENCE. THE BOOK NARRATES THE INTRIGUE, TERROR, AND DRAMA OF THIS LAST YEAR. INCLUDED ARE A LIST OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, A LIST OF MAJOR DATES, AND AN INDEX. (PRG)