While Europe Celebrates V-E Day, Algeria Honors Victims of Colonial-Era Massacres on the Same Date
As European nations proudly commemorate Victory in Europe (V-E) Day on May 8—the day Nazi Germany officially surrendered in 1945—Algeria marks a far more painful chapter in its history: the Sétif and Guelma massacres. These colonial-era atrocities, carried out by French forces on the very day the rest of the continent celebrated peace, continue to cast a long shadow over France-Algeria relations and highlight a dark, often overlooked legacy of World War II’s end.
Two Realities on the Same Day: Celebration and Bloodshed
In 1945, as joyous crowds filled the streets of Paris and London to celebrate the defeat of fascism, Algerians in Sétif and Guelma took to the streets to demand independence and civil rights—hoping that the end of World War II would also mean the beginning of freedom from French colonial rule.
Instead, their peaceful demonstrations were met with brutal military retaliation. French colonial forces opened fire on protesters, sparking a week-long campaign of violence that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 15,000 to 45,000 Algerians, though the exact toll remains contested.
“For many Algerians, May 8 is not a day of liberation, but of betrayal and mourning,” said historian Dr. Nadjia Bouzeghrane. “While the Allies claimed to fight for freedom, Algerians were punished for seeking their own.”
Commemorations in Algeria: A Parallel Legacy
In towns like Sétif, Guelma, and Kherrata, thousands gathered today to honor the memory of the victims. Flags were lowered, and prayers held in cemeteries where mass graves are believed to exist. The Algerian government has long used May 8 as a reminder of its anti-colonial struggle, with officials reiterating calls for France to acknowledge full responsibility for its colonial crimes.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated in a national address, “May 8 is a day when Algeria remembers its martyrs. We honor their sacrifice and renew our commitment to truth, justice, and historical clarity.”
A Persistent Strain in France-Algeria Relations
The Sétif and Guelma massacres remain one of the most sensitive topics in the strained diplomatic relationship between Algeria and its former colonial ruler, France. While French President Emmanuel Macron has taken steps to acknowledge colonial-era abuses—including referring to the 1961 Paris massacre of Algerian protesters as a “state crime”—many Algerians say deeper, formal apologies and reparative justice are still lacking.
“The wounds of 1945 have not healed,” said Dr. Amine Djerbal, a political analyst based in Algiers. “France cannot fully celebrate V-E Day without reckoning with what it did in its own colonies at the same time.”
Global Reflections: Rethinking Historical Narratives
This year, activists and historians across Europe have used V-E Day to reflect on how colonialism shaped the postwar order. In France, leftist political groups and anti-colonial NGOs held counter-marches and seminars to highlight the other side of May 8.
A joint statement from several European human rights organizations urged governments to “include colonial atrocities in national WWII commemorations,” calling it “a necessary step toward honest memory and inclusive history.”
Conclusion: Two Histories, One Date
As Europe raises flags and holds parades in honor of V-E Day, Algeria continues to grieve and remember a different battle—one for freedom not from fascism, but from colonial domination. The contrast underscores how May 8, 1945, represents not only the end of one war, but the brutal continuation of another.
Until both legacies are fully acknowledged, May 8 will remain a day marked by both celebration and sorrow—depending on where in the world you stand.
Source : Swifteradio.com
