Algeria During the First World War
First: Compulsory Military Enlistment of Algerians 1907 - 1919
The colonialism that characterized French policy during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries created for the rulers of the French Empire the need for a military force to accomplish the tasks required by colonial adventures in and out of Africa. The first discussions emerge because of various projects needing the use of human resources owned by the colonies, particularly Algeria and its riches. Algeria served as a people, ecological, and economic reservoir for France.
1- Algerian Enlistment
Enlistment methods were not compulsory at first, but relied on volunteering for a small fee, but were tempting for young Algerians deprived of sources and means of subsistence. Algerians contributed in several French colonial wars, such as the Crimean War of 1854, The Mexican Campaign 1860, and Franco-Prussian War 1870, French conquest of Tunisia 1881, The Madagascar Campaign 1889 -1900. With the emergence of signs of Moroccan crisis at the beginning of the twentieth century and European preparations for the internal war, the need for France to strengthen its military force by resorting to forced enlistment of Algerian youth increased, despite Algerian opposition and age. The French government therefore set up a committee to study the possibility of compulsory military service for Algerians in 1907, the results of which were reflected in the decree of July 17, 1908, which set the age of 18 for young Algerians.
However, the question remained unanswered because of the strong opposition of the colonists, who saw in the project a danger to the colonial presence, and the opposition of the Algerians to political and religious considerations. Even so, the international political climate was precipitated by the promulgation of the decree of February 3, 1912 on the enlistment of Algerians for three years, while remaining in the reserve teams for seven years after the end of the service The latter came as a complement to the voluntary enlistment, which did not yield significant results, and then the decree of September 19, 1913 on the penalties for the law on compulsory enlistment was enacted.
The process of compulsory military enlistment expanded during the war years to include thousands of young people recruited as permanent workers to serve the French economy and support the war effort, and France was able to overcome the tragedy of WWI thanks to the sacrifices of tens of thousands of young Algerians to liberate France from the German occupation. Although statistics vary from one source to another, and from one side to another, they maintain that the proportion of Algerians killed in the Great War was 30% of the total recruits between 1914-1918, while the number of injured equaled 50% of the Algerian recruits, who counted 5600
2- Position Elite of Algeria
The Algerian National Movement opposed the 1912 decree and campaigned against enlistment in their newspapers and clubs, even urging Algerians not to comply with the colonial administration's orders and to flee their homes. Algerian youth responded to the calls of the National Movement, with only 25 out of 144 youth registered in the barracks of Batna, while 159 out of 160 registered in Nedrouma abstained But the colonial authorities were determined to apply the law fully and immediately after the outbreak of WWI. It was able to recruit some 4,000 young Algerians in late August 1914 who worked to give them initial military training before engaging in a war that have nothing to do with them. Emir Khaled’s movement required inclusive reforms in all fields that would uplift and shift the miserable situations in which Algerians lived, in addition to better representation in different settings and the abolition of special laws.
In addition to the attitude of the political movement, we find the resistance to enlistment during the WWI, especially the migration of Algerians to the Arab country, moreover numerous uprisings and various resistances have invaded the whole country, such as the resistance of Auras 1916.
3- Position of The French:
Despite the silence of the colonial press and the refusal of French historians to highlight the sacrifices of Algerians to rescue France and its people, some voices in France have urged for the need to offer limited political and social rewards to Algerians.
Consequently, as usually, colonial France responded only partially to the demands of the Algerians, this was reflected in the reforms February 24, 1919 was not up to the aspirations of the Algerians who were deeply disappointed what they made them realize that the French colonial regime would not give them their rights, no matter how much they sacrifice. The sufferings of the Algerian people during the Great War, and the position of France on their demands after 1919, was the main reason for the early emergence of the revolutionary independence current in the Algerian National Movement represented by El Emir Khaled in his petition to U.S. President Wilson in which he demanded that the principle of self-determination be applied to the Algerians.
The Algerian war effort during the First World War 1914-1918
The WWI broke out while Algeria was in a straitened situation Algerians became human shields with whom France confronted the flames of security, especially since it complained of demographic shortages since the beginning of the 20th century. As a result, France hastened to recruit almost a third of a million young Algerians and send them to defend its land and work in its industries and fields. Algeria's war effort was not only on the human side, but also suffered in the economic field, undermining the society and eroding it further.
1. The economic effort of Algerians during the First World War
In the agricultural field, Algeria contributed significantly to the supply of France during the WWI, despite the deterioration of the agricultural production of Algeria by several natural, political and human factors. Cereals constituted the first category of agricultural exports, with Algeria sending some 8,314,000 quintal of wheat to France between 1914 and 1916, while barley exports during the same period amounted to some 12,770,617 quintal.
Exports included several agricultural crops, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggs, which were intended to supply hospitals that received war wounded in France In addition, 120,000 quintal of tobacco were shipped to France in 1917, after tobacco exports had only reached 80,000 quintal before 1914. France needed the Allies, exporting over half a million quintals between 1914 and 1918; oils were also exported at 27,730 quintal in 1917. Even Algerian dates were included in the list of items needed to supply France's exports 294,736 quintal in 1917. Livestock ranked as the second most important export commodity during the war, with official statistics indicating that sheep exports amounted to 2839206 heads in 1915 and 1918. This has had a negative impact on Algerian meat prices, which have risen sharply and are no longer affordable for Algerians, regardless of their social status. Mining materials, in turn, saw a significant increase in export-oriented production to meet the needs of French war factories. Lead production increased 100 percent between 1915 and 1916 and continued at the same rate in 1917. Zinc and phosphate doubled between 1915 and 1916, and coal production increased 300 percent between 1917 and 1918.
2 -The financial effort of Algerians during the First World War
The war effort of Algerians during the WWI 1914-1918 was not limited to the human and economic aspect, but went beyond the financial effort. French politicians themselves recognized, through their government's reports during the war, that the Algerians suffered great poverty and were deprived of the most basic necessities. However, many taxes were imposed on them until many of them sold their remaining property and furniture to pay their war taxes. The French did not take into account the conditions and poverty of the inhabitants. The direct and indirect tax revenues collected by the French administration exceeded 50 million francs per year in 1913-1919. Ultimately, the sacrifices made against the Algerians as part of the war effort have surpassed all perceptions through the recognition of French historians. One consequence was that Algerian society deteriorated the living and health conditions of Algerians, who were starved by drought, high prices, scarcity of agricultural materials, and the loss of much of the young labor force that France recruited to protect its soil and people. This painful phase in the history of the Algerian people had a profound impact on the development of national consciousness and on determining the course of the post-war political struggle.
