Fatshimetrie: A look back at the “Red All Saints’ Day” of the Algerian War, 70 years ago
70 years ago, on November 1, 1954, while metropolitan France was preparing to celebrate All Saints’ Day, a major event was taking place in Algeria. Algerian independence activists chose this symbolic day to launch a series of actions that would mark the beginning of a long and bloody war of independence. This choice of the date of All Saints’ Day was not insignificant, it was loaded with meaning and symbolism, echoing the call for insurrection against French colonialism.
At that time, the French government did not yet recognize the reality of a war in Algeria. People spoke instead of the “events in Algeria”, thus minimizing the seriousness of the situation and refusing to recognize the Algerian people’s desire for independence. France, still scarred by the recent loss of Indochina, was convinced of its ability to maintain its authority over its colonies. But the “Red All Saints’ Day” would mark the beginning of a fierce and determined struggle for Algerian independence.
This fateful date in 1954 symbolizes not only the beginning of the Algerian War, but also the end of a world, that of colonial empires. France had long maintained its presence in Algeria, considering this country as an integral part of its territory, with a large European community living there. But the Algerian population’s aspiration for independence could no longer be ignored, and the “Red All Saints’ Day” marked the beginning of a historical sequence that would culminate in Algerian independence in 1962.
Tracing the history of the “Red All Saints’ Day” allows us to understand the importance of this date in the context of the Algerian War, but also in that of French decolonization. This event marks a major turning point in the history of Algeria and France, highlighting the political, social and human issues related to the question of colonization and independence. Today, 70 years later, it is essential to remember the “Red All Saints’ Day” and its impact on the destiny of Algeria and its inhabitants.