The murder of thousands Algerians by French soldiers 81 years ago has been commemorated, with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune terming it as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity in the modern era.

In May 1945 French soldiers killed civilians around the towns of Sétif, Guelma, and Kherrata who were demanding for independence.

The killings erupted on the same day that Europe was celebrating victory over Nazi Germany. The official Algerian version is that nearly 45,000 people were killed in the crackdown led by French General Raymond Duval.

“Those harsh sacrifices will remain a chapter in our glorious contemporary history, their details ever-present in the annals of memory,” President Tebboune said on Friday.

He said efforts were underway to enact a law dedicated to protecting Algeria’s national memory and honoring the victims of the massacres.

Repression and violence

More than 500,000 soldiers from North Africa, West Africa and Madagascar fought for France during WWII. Some volunteered while others were forcibly conscripted. Many lost their lives.

Many Algerian veterans believed their service would lead to greater rights. But when the war ended, Algerians who dared to demand them were met with repression and violence.

On May 8, 1945, Algerians filled city streets in Sétif, Guelma, and Kherrata, waving flags and reviving pre-war calls for independence. After demonstrators faced police fire, anti-French riots broke out, killing more than 100. France subsequently launched an air and ground offensive.

For many in Algeria, the May 8 massacres awakened the anger and resolve that later fueled Algeria’s war for independence.