the OAS (Organisation armée secrète)

The Organisation armée secrète (OAS) was a French far-right paramilitary group active in the early 1960s, primarily opposed to Algeria gaining independence from France. They used violence and sabotage to try to prevent decolonization, aiming to keep Algeria French. Their actions included bombings, assassinations, and attacks against pro-independence figures. The OAS believed they were defending French interests and the colonial empire, but their violent campaign also caused widespread fear and unrest in France and Algeria. The group was eventually dismantled by French authorities, but their activities remain a notable chapter in France’s recent history of political conflict.