The Organisation armee secrete, known as the OAS, was a French far-right paramilitary organisation that sought to prevent the independence of Algeria and to keep it French. It was formed in Madrid by opponents of de Gaulle's Algerian policy, and General Raoul Salan, who took part in the failed generals' putsch in Algiers, became its leader. The OAS carried out a campaign of bombings and assassinations in Algeria and in mainland France, targeting Algerian civilians, officials who supported independence and French officials, and it attempted to assassinate President Charles de Gaulle. It failed to stop the independence of Algeria in 1962, and the organisation was crushed when its leaders were arrested, including Salan, who was sentenced to life in prison.
Before and after
- 4 January 1961Death of Erwin Schrödinger
- 17 January 1961Death of Patrice Lumumba
- from 4 February 1961 to 25 April 1974Angolan War of Independence
- from 4 February 1961 to 25 April 1974Portuguese Colonial War
- from 11 February 1961 to 1 January 1963Rise of Secret Army Organization
- 12 February 1961Launch of Venera 1
- 14 February 1961Discovery of lawrencium
- 24 February 1961Birth of Erna Solberg
- 7 March 1961Birth of Sanae Takaichi
More in Society, economy & sport
- 22 March 1945Founding of Arab League
- 1950Origins of Formula One
- 8 August 1967Founding of ASEAN
- 10 December 1987Rise of Hamas
- 1994Rise of Taliban
- 11 September 2001September 11 attacks
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.