In 2003 there were approximately 500,000 Harkis living in France. At present Harkis is a generic term referring to the Algerians who fought alongside the French army during the Algerian war from 1954 until 1962. They became Harkis for assorted reasons: for the regular pay, out of loyalty to a French army officer, to be on the side of the likely winners, to avenge a member of their family killed by the National Liberation Front (FLN), to obey their chief (bachaga), because they were Francophiles, or because, following the French army's tricks, they were perceived as traitors to their own people.

In 1962 French President Charles De Gaulle decided to quickly resolve the Algerian crisis: He ordered the French army to disarm the Harkis before departing and to prevent them from fleeing to France. After the cease-fire on March 19, 1962, tens of thousands of abandoned Harkis—some claim 150,000—were vengefully massacred...