The 8th of May 1945, Tragedy in the Constantinois, Sétif Guelma Kherrata…

The 8th of May 1945. To celebrate the victory of the Allies over the Nazis, a peaceful, public demonstration organized by the Algerians with the agreement of the colonial authorities in the town of Sétif, then in Guelma, in the east of Algeria, takes a tragic turn. The murderous attack launched by the French army and the colonial militia against the revolt of the Algerian Nationalists will assume considerable proportions, and last for several weeks. Amongst the Europeans there will be a hundred dead and as many injured. The number of native casualties is still the subject of debate today. Historians speak of between 18 000 and 45 000 victims...