The F.L.N.’s flags in Algiers triggered a mass demonstration exceeding all plans
Evidence
Sunday, 11 December, was the day for which Larbi Alilat and the reconstituted F.L.N. organisation in Algiers had been so carefully preparing. It was to turn out to be one of the key days of the Algerian war for the Muslim cause. Thousands of green-and-white F.L.N. flags had been sewn together by the women of the Casbah, and distributed — together with banners and placards — clandestinely throughout the Muslim quarters. But the resultant chain reaction far exceeded anything anticipated by the organisers. Partly it may have been sparked by the pieds noirs’ demonstrations of the two preceding days; partly by word on the swift “Arab telegraph” of the racial violence in Belcourt the previous night. At heart, however, it seems to have been one of those inexplicable explosions caused by long-pent-up forces. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1305
Categorization
- QUESTION: The author calls it an ‘inexplicable explosion’ — what specific pent-up forces detonated on 11 December?
- XREF: connects to: The 16 May Muslim fraternisation in Algiers grew far beyond what was staged.; Abstention in 1960 Algerian elections evidenced F.L.N. control over the population.; The F.L.N.’s planned December demonstration exploded far beyond organizers’ expectations.
Related
- The F.L.N.’s planned December demonstration exploded far beyond organizers’ expectations. (similarity 0.91)
- The 16 May Muslim fraternisation in Algiers grew far beyond what was staged. (similarity 0.83)
- Lifting military pressure let F.L.N. terrorism nearly double from November to December. (similarity 0.80)
- The December 1960 Muslim demonstration reversed the war’s momentum (similarity 0.80)
- The 1961 riots proved the F.L.N. controlled most of the population (similarity 0.78)