70th Anniversary of the Outbreak of the Algerian War. The Gendarmes and the “Red All Saints’ Day” of 1 November 1954

  • Par la rédaction du site CRGN
  • Publié le 31 mars 2026, mis à jour le 01 avril 2026

Research Note Issue 108

By Commander Benoît Haberbusch

"“They knew they would have to fight against the French police and army, and against one million Europeans determined to yield nothing (…) They knew that to confront these overwhelming forces their numbers amounted, in the towns, to only a handful of loyal followers (…) that their weaponry was pitiful: a few obsolete rifles, a few old revolvers, and homemade bombs. But they felt that (…) once the fire had been lit, it would find what it needed to feed and swell its flames, and would never again be extinguished. Provided that the blaze was ignited everywhere, from one end of Algeria to the other, on the same day. On 1 November 1954, it was so.” Joseph Kessel perceptively captured the stakes represented by the “Red All Saints’ Day” (Toussaint rouge) for the “Group of Six,” founders of the Front de libération nationale (FLN). (...)"

To read more :

Partager la page

Ces contenus peuvent vous intéresser

Contacter la gendarmerie

Numéros d'urgence

  • Police - Gendarmerie : 17
  • Pompier : 18
  • Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU) : 15
  • Urgence Europe : 112

Sécurité et écoute

  • Enfance en danger : 119
  • Violences conjugales : 39 19
  • Maltraitance personnes âgées ou en situation de handicap : 39 77