Harkis during the war of Algeria

The Harkis during the war of Algeria recalls the history of the engagement of the Moslem back-up troops engaged by the French Army during the Guerre of Algeria. During the war of independence (1955-1962), the harkis indeed form a category of back-up troops of the French Army, irregular soldiers recruited with the favor of the war.

Origins of Harkis (1954-57)

The idea to form units of suppletive police force was formulated before even the beginning of the Algerian insurrection which one traditionally dates of November 1st, 1954. The general governor of Algeria, Roger Léonard had wished the creation of " goum S civils" composed of Moslem Algerians to patrol in the rural areas. One can quote the Turcopole S, the Zouave S (1830), the Algerian Tirailleur S (1842).

This creation, at the time where Europeans are mobilized under the flags raises some problem legal of statute. Indeed, for the colonial period, the Moslem Algerians were of French nationality, without having all the attributes of the citizenship. They could obtain it only by affirming as a preliminary " to state to give up personal status to be governed by civil and political laws françaises". This personal status is that established by Coran; its rupture implies the abandonment of polygamy, the right for a father to marry his child with his own way, right to break the marital bond at the discretion of the husband, to recognize the legitimate filiation of a newborn more than ten months and five years after dissolution of a marriage, and finally the privilege of the males as regards succession.

The Moslem French of Algeria could have been called up for the military service as well as the other citizens, without profiting from particular status (it will be the case as from May 1958). These legal reserves are raised by the Ministry for Defense because of the withdrawn advantages of the constitution of such groups. Initially, to withdraw the combatants from the “rebellious” influence, and in second place, to have local troops ready to provide information and to take part in the maintenance of law and order in a country which they know as well as the rebels.

In Metropolitan France, according to the model of the Shawl plan, one recute of Moslem Algerian to fight more effectively against the FLN. This auxiliary police force (FPA) is operational as from March 1960 ^,.

Towards the independence of Algeria (1961-62)

January 8th, 1961, the French of metropolis wearied by a war whom they do not include/understand pronounce by referendum for the self-determination of Algeria. It becomes so clear that De Gaulle already chose the way of Algerian independence that part of the army takes part in one will call the Putsch of Algiers and will enter in dissidence between April 23rd and 26th 1961. The negotiations with the FLN open officially in Evian on May 20th, 1961. They will lead, almost a year later with the signature of the Accords of Evian which lead to independence subject to a confirmation by referendum.

It is about a complete reversal compared to the policy of French Algeria for which had fought the French Army and the various bodies of back-up troops that it had created. Although the agreements of Evian consider implicitly that the Pieds-Noirs, i.e. the French of Algeria, remain in Algeria, of the plans had considered dice 1961 their return in metropolis. The harkis at this time are frankly distinguished from the " French of Algérie". To come to France is not regarded a return, but as a migration. It is the end of the myth maintained the previous years which introduced the Moslem French like French like the others. From March 1st to May 1st, 1962, manpower of the harkis pass from 41 383 with 11 998. The desertions account for 3,5% of the departures, engagements in the army, 6%, the civil contracts, 11% and the dismissals with premium 80%.

From March 1962, the contacts between the FLN and the population multiply. The harkis receive threats as well as promises of forgiveness conditioned sometimes with the payment of their premiums of dismissal. Many Moslems who come to place themselves under the protection of the French Army to escape the threats ask for repatriation in metropolis. They are all the categories of former back-up troops, but also of civils servant or elected officials. After the agreements of Evian, between 30 000 and 50 000 Moslems are repatriated in France by the official way, of which 23 721 between June 1962 in May 1963, One evaluates between 25 000 and 40 000 those which gain the metropolis by their own means.

Agreements of Evian in March 1962 to the establishment without dispute of the authority of Ben Bella, Algeria saw one period of semi-anarchy where it is difficult to specify which, in each area, exerts really the authority. Until the independence which intervenes on July 5th, 1962, a " executive provisoire" exert the authority theoretically and profits from a formed local force, always theoretically, Europeans and Algerians, but generally subordinated to the ALN which inevitably does not respect the authority of the GPRA which cannot prevent many exactions with respect to Europeans or of the Moslems. From July in September 1962, Algeria screw the apogee of what one called the Wilayisme, i.e., the fight between the various military regions to which the re-entry is added on the Algerian territory of the troops of the ALN formerly stationed in Tunisia or in Morocco. It is in this context that are held a wave of exactions against all the presumedly enemy ones of Algerian fatherland indicated under the generic term of “harkis”. These exactions take various forms: taxations, arrests, brimades, executions often accompanied by tortures. According to the places, it can be a question of a policy of revenge organized by the new authorities or the occasion to regulate of old accounts.

The few 90.000 “Moslem French” who regained France after the signature of the agreements of Evian are them also indicated under the generic name of “harkis”. Among those which remained in Algeria, several tens of thousands were carried out.

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