Algeria commemorates the massacres of 1945, while Europe celebrates victory over fascism, revealing divergent memories to reconcile.

The anniversary of May 8, 1945 aroused contrasting resonances between Europe and Algeria, each of the two regions with a singular look at this historic event. While Europe celebrates its victory over fascism, Algeria commemorates the tragic massacres which took place on the same day, marking a brutal repression of the aspirations of a colonized people. This context reveals a collective memory responsible for pain and quest for justice, and raises questions about the recognition of experienced suffering. The efforts of reconciliation and dialogue between France and Algeria, illustrated by the visit of French parliamentarians in Algiers, indicate a desire to advance together. However, the path to a mutual understanding remains strewn with pitfalls, inviting to reflect on how to build a relationship based on respect for divergent memories and the hope of a shared future.
### The anniversary of May 8, 1945: contrasting resonances between Europe and Algeria

While Europe celebrates the 80th anniversary of its victory over fascism, Algeria turns to a troubled past, commemorating the massacres that occurred the same day in 1945. This event evokes memories of violence and repression in a colonial context which continues to influence relations between France and its former colony.

#### A painful memory

The ceremonies commemorating the tragic events of Guelma, Kherrata and Sétif, which marked a violent reaction from the French authorities in the face of Algerian demonstrations, testify to a continuous quest for memory and justice. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune articulated this collective pain by positioning these massacres as a preamble to the struggle for independence after 132 years of French colonization. The slogan chosen by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs – “a people without memory is a people without a future” – underlines the importance of Remembrance in the process of national construction.

During the Second World War, more than 500,000 African tirailleurs fought for France. This mobilization was accompanied, among some, of a hope of seeing their sacrifices rewarded with political recognition. However, the return to peace revealed a very different reality. The aspirations of Algerians to obtain increased rights were stifled in the blood when, on May 8, 1945, peaceful demonstrations were brutally repressed, triggering riots that led to thousands of deaths.

#### The question of recognition

The absence of an official forgiveness on the part of France remains one of the most sensitive points of historical memory. While French political figures, including Emmanuel Macron, have proposed initiatives to promote truth and reconciliation, such as the Archives Commission, the tangible results of these efforts remain to be deplored. The dissatisfaction of Algerians in the face of this process testifies to a broader expectation of recognition of experienced suffering. Daho Djerbal, Algerian historian, stresses that this marking day has catalyzed the desire for independence of Algerians, but he notes that there is still no official recognition of acts of violence perpetrated.

#### A complex dialogue

The arrival of a delegation of French parliamentarians in Algers to participate in ceremonies is an initiative that deserves to be examined in a broader context of historical and political dialogue. This raises questions about how the two nations can move forward together in the recognition of a painful past, while building a peaceful relationship. These exchanges are crucial to ensure that the heritage of the Algerian war of independence is not relegated to silence but that it is integrated into a shared narration.

In short, May 8, 1945 represents an emblematic moment of the struggles for the recognition of colonial rights and identities. The various ceremonies of this year add a layer of complexity to the Franco-Algerian dynamic, where the balance between national pride and collective pain remains unstable. For future generations, the way in which the two countries will approach this common past could define not only their mutual relationships, but also the way in which each country fights for its own memory and its identity in the face of a constantly evolving world.

### towards a shared future?

By analyzing these events, it is essential to ask questions about the ways to follow to build a mutual understanding and respect for memories. How can France and Algeria collaborate to establish a shared account that honors victims without the weight of guilt? How can education play a role in the reconciliation of these divergent memories?

History, with its scars and lessons, remains a fertile terrain for dialogue. Celebrating peace in Europe while remembering the struggles in Algeria is not a contradiction, but can be an opportunity to build bridges for the future. By means of recognition, respect and the desire for dialogue, it may be possible to initiate a new phase in relations between the two nations.

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