The war for Algerian independence began in earnest in 1954. Following World War 2 many former colonies sought independence. France had already granted freedom to Morocco and Tunisia. However Algeria was different. There were a million French colonists living there - the "pied-noir".
On November 1st 1954 the Front Nationale de Liberation (FLN) began their campaign. They began hitting military targets. French troops and Pied Noir militia retaliated against the locals. In 1956 the FLN focused their attacks on Algiers mostly on civilian targets. The French locked down the city, dividing it into zones. They arrested many and used torture to interrogate them. This damaged the FLN, but it inflamed public opinion in Algeria, France and the rest of the world. The vicious war of atrocities and revenge continued for a number of years.
In 1959 new French president Charles de Gaulle determined that French control could not be maintained and that Algeria should gain its autonomy. He began to negotiate with the FLN. The Pied-Noir felt betrayed.
Under the Treaty of Evian 1962 Algeria won independence. Almost a million people who had supported the French returned to France. Ben Bella became the first president of Algeria.