The apparition of harkis in the Algerian battlefield was not new, unexpected when the Algerian National Liberation War escalated gradually after 1957 with the breakout of the guerilla warfare in Alger. In fact, every colonial conquest was accomplished...
The apparition of harkis in the Algerian battlefield was not new, unexpected when the Algerian National Liberation War escalated gradually after 1957 with the breakout of the guerilla warfare in Alger. In fact, every colonial conquest was accomplished by the military oppression and France was a great power of the possession of colonies. All her military operation required the use of native peoples who are acquainted with the strategical or logistic, above all the neighbours.
The employments of harkis by the French military as well as French metropolitan police as supplementary force during the Algerian War pose an complicated tragedy to both parties of the same people. It was evident that the harkis only executed the orders of colonial forces, but the methods were physical, psychological violence and tortures. They had been condemned to be traitors by the FLN(Front de la Liberation Nationale) as well as by the common people whose suffering was not surmountable under the French colonial governance. Following the Independence in July of 1962, it was the turn of harkis who had been massacred here and there in Algeria in atrocious manner. It is doubtful that exact legal documents or apologies of harkis were written on that process.
Because such vicious circle was repeated through the expansion of colonialism, it is not reasonable to just take part in justification of such violences. It could not be interpreted as neutral, irresponsible attitude. What was needed was the testimony of the harkis themselves. Historical curiosity about their feeling in the course of tormented investigations against the same national faces remains.