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The War in Algeria

Philip Jones Griffiths documents the Algerian Revolution capturing the impact of the fighting between guerrilla fighters and the French leading to the countries independence in 1962

Philip Jones Griffiths

Philip Jones Griffiths National Liberation Front (FLN) commander pins a medal on a young boy who had rendered a service to the guerrillas. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths The War in Algeria. Grandmother and child in a regroupment camp in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Child in a regroupment camp. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Regroupment camp in the mountains of Kabylie recently abandoned by French troops. Algeria. 1962 © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Regroupment camp in the mountains of Kabylie. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Regroupment camp in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Children in the Casbah. Algiers, Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Children in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths The War in Algeria. Platoon of FLN troops. Kabyli, Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths FLN soldiers and porters crossing a river in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Children in a regroupment camp in the Kabylie region. The French troops occupied the high ground under the fluttering Tri-color flag. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Children in a regroupment camp. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths FLN fighter relaxes under a tree in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Boy with wounded hand in the Kabylie region. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths The Casbah. Algiers, Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Staff commiserate outside their cafe bombed by the OAS (Organistion de L'Armee Secrete) attempting to derail De Gaulle's peace initiative. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

Philip Jones Griffiths Old man in what remained of his village after French bombing. Algeria. 1962. © Philip Jones Griffiths | Magnum Photos

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The movement for Algeria’s independence from France began during World War I and gained momentum when French promises of greater self-rule were still unfulfilled after World War II. In 1954 a guerrilla war against France was waged by the FLN (National Liberation Front), who wanted diplomatic recognition from the UN to establish a sovereign Algerian state. The heaviest fighting took place in and around Algiers, where FLN fighters launched violent urban attacks that came to be known as the Battle of Algiers. The French military regained control but only through brutal measures. Despite acts of terrorism by French Algerians, who opposed independence, and an attempted coup in France by elements of the French army, an agreement was signed in 1962, and Algeria gained its independence.