Charles de Gaulle

Brought back to power in 1958 largely by those who wanted Algeria kept French, de Gaulle moved step by step towards Algerian self-determination and independence in 1962. Settlers and parts of the army felt betrayed; generals attempted a putsch in 1961 and the OAS terror group tried repeatedly to assassinate him. Mainland voters backed him in referendums, but around a million settlers left Algeria and the harkis who had fought for France were largely abandoned to reprisals.