De Gaulle’s 1958 arrival threatened the F.L.N. through fraternisation and a Muslim third force

Evidence

Then, suddenly, there occurred the extraordinary phenomenon of the “fraternisation” of 16 May; rigged in part by the Cinquième Bureau but also deeply and disturbingly symptomatic of the hope that the mere name of de Gaulle could inspire in the breast of many a simple, peace-craving Algerian. And immediately de Gaulle had begun talking about true “equality” within the French republic and the end of second-class citizenry, words that from his mouth alone sounded true and meaningful. If de Gaulle were to follow this up with a massive appeal to the battered, disillusioned but still extant “third force” of Muslims, then this could only present the F.L.N. with the gravest menace to its prestige and war aims. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 963 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Early that morning European residents of Algiers were astonished to see a green-and-white flag fluttering from the top of the Kouba mosque. Gendarmes were sent to take it down. Then more appeared from other mosques. From windows of Muslim homes first one flag was unfurled, rather tentatively — then a score along the length of the street. Out into the mean alleys of the Casbah and Belcourt Muslim youths poured — not the expected hundreds, but thousands — chanting: “Yahia Ferhat Abbas! Yahia F.L.N.! Yahia de Gaulle!” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1305 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

In Belcourt Edward Behr observed a scene which summed up the situation…a Moslem came careering round a corner on a motorcycle, tied to which was an enormous F.L.N. flag. A gendarmerie captain told him to put it away. “Pourquoi? On ne fait pas de mal,” he replied. “Le Général de Gaulle a dit: Algérie algérienne. On est Algérien, non?” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1306 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Torture destroyed the Muslim third force and turned French opinion against the war; France armed defector Bellounis into a private Muslim ‘third force’ army; F.L.N. terrorism and G.P.R.A. assertiveness eroded the French ‘third force’ Muslim strategy — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1283 (+4 more)

Related

• De Gaulle’s name alone inspired hope that threatened F.L.N. prestige (similarity 0.91)
• Muslim masses openly proclaimed support for de Gaulle and the F.L.N. simultaneously (similarity 0.88)
• De Gaulle paired Muslim representation guarantees with a peace offer to the FLN (similarity 0.85)
• Algeria’s moderate third force was crushed between the F.L.N. and the O.A.S. (similarity 0.84)
• Muslims invoked de Gaulle’s own words to justify flying the F.L.N. flag (similarity 0.83)
• Algerian Muslims turned de Gaulle’s own slogan against French authorities. (similarity 0.83)
• France armed defector Bellounis into a private Muslim ‘third force’ army (similarity 0.82)
• The 16 May Muslim fraternisation in Algiers grew far beyond what was staged. (similarity 0.82)
• European liberals and Muslim Algerians shared hopes for a negotiated peace before 1956. (similarity 0.81)
• A broad front of ex-ministers formed around Algérie française in 1960. (similarity 0.80)
• By late 1958 Muslim sentiment had hardened toward independence (similarity 0.80)
• De Gaulle’s peace offer meant truce, not capitulation, a distinction the F.L.N. missed. (similarity 0.80)
• De Gaulle’s mystical self-assurance blinded him to the F.L.N.’s political character. (similarity 0.80)
• The F.L.N.’s suspension of French terrorism encouraged de Gaulle’s peace initiative (similarity 0.80)
• F.L.N. terrorism in France alienated even its expected leftist allies. (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• De Gaulle’s name alone inspired hope that threatened F.L.N. prestige #corroborates (0.80) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 963
• Muslim masses openly proclaimed support for de Gaulle and the F.L.N. simultaneously #corroborates (0.70) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1305
• Muslims invoked de Gaulle’s own words to justify flying the F.L.N. flag #exemplifies (0.60) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1306
• F.L.N. terrorism and G.P.R.A. assertiveness eroded the French ‘third force’ Muslim strategy #contradicts (0.55) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1283
• Algeria’s moderate third force was crushed between the F.L.N. and the O.A.S. #complicates (0.50) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1585