France’s veterans minister visited Algeria Sunday to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1945 Sétif Massacres, in which up to 45,000 Algerians were killed by French colonists and soldiers. Jean-Marc Todeschini told the Algerian APS press agency the visit – the first of a high-level representative of the French government – was a “strong gesture of France’s recognition of the suffering inflicted on Algerians”.The massacres began after a demonstration on May 8, 1945 – the day the Second World War in Europe ended – in the Algerian market town of Sétif. During the period of unrest, anti-French violence resulted in the deaths of around 100 French “Pied Noir” colonists. Reports at the time claimed many victims were raped and mutilated.
Val says I am really fascinated by the Algerian war and the "pied noir" so many French friends we know had families that suffered.
